Impact Stories

Music Creates a Breakthrough for Communication and Sensory Needs

Early Intervention Services and Music for Communication and Sensory Needs - Partners in Child Development

Communication | Sensory

Background

The family reached out to Early Intervention Services in Lawrence, MA seeking therapeutic services to help with their two-year old son’s communication.

Early Intervention Services

Their son was evaluated and found eligible for Partners in Child Development’s Early Intervention (EI) Services, which included a developmental specialist and Christine, a speech language pathologist, who worked with him and his family. In addition to focusing on speech, he participated in a parent-child playgroup with an EI occupational therapist to further build his communication and social interaction skills playing with children his age while experiencing a classroom prior to preschool.

Around age 2 ½, the parents chose to have their son evaluated for autism. He was diagnosed, providing the family and the therapists with additional information to offer strategies and insight into his overall strengths and areas of support related to his learning.

As Christine worked with him and the family on his speech, the family shared his interest in music and wanting to sing. Christine arranged a music therapy consult which he absolutely loved! This consult was a breakthrough as he was especially attentive and interactive using language through song. Christine incorporated music into their time together which benefitted his motor skill development and language processing. “Baby” by Justin Bieber was a particular favorite.

Building on his love of music, strategies included singing a phrase and having him fill in the blank of the missing word. As he mastered this game, they further developed his language processing skills by leaving out two words for him to fill in. Christine also modeled commonly used phrases within highly preferred activities, allowing melodic intonation to encourage language.

The family was especially committed and engaged, embracing therapeutic ideas and strategies to better understand their son and to readily adopt neuro affirming strategies.

Benefits to Child and Family

Today, this young boy is attending preschool and loves it! With Early Intervention Services provided from two years old to when he turned three, his family has strategies and tools to support their son’s ongoing growth and development.

Early Intervention Services has been one of the best experiences for my family. My son made incredible progress through his services. He gained confidence in his speech abilities and developed the foundational social skills needed for positive peer interactions. I’m so thankful for the tools and strategies I’ve learned to support his emotional and sensory needs. I’m forever grateful for the guidance and support navigating a challenging time.

– Mother, North Andover, MA