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Themis
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05 Aug 2008, 5:52 am

Dear Aspies,

Can you help me for the role of Music therapy on Asperger's persons.

The music therapy is a specific education that needs a specialist teacher or is it a simple practise?

Thanks
Themis



donkey
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05 Aug 2008, 6:19 am

from what i am aware of. some forms of music can be played to soothe people with AS.
it is risky therapy as what soothes some will enrage other....just try putting on heavy metal thrash, i go completely nuts.
i do like and will play oiver and over addagio for strings.
i am not sure if it is a specific and recognised therapy, but the cottage industry surrounding AS will get you in a room, ask what your favourite music is, play it to you and charge you £50.



KimJ
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05 Aug 2008, 9:39 am

Here in the States it comes in different forms. Generally it's like a general music class, allowing the children to listen to music, play instruments and move around (dance). I think there are versions with "therapists" and some with teachers.
I never enrolled my son with this but we always had music on in the house and music was used in his special ed classes. Certain music soothed him and certain freaked him out. He tended to prefer the gentle music with a soft voice (Dido) and now really likes kd lang (I played her a lot when I was pregnant). He would flip out with Mozart and jazz.



ster
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05 Aug 2008, 9:53 am

my coworker is a music therapist......some of the skills she works on are: listening, following directions, taking turns, learning basic rhythms, student-led groups, and music relaxation.



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05 Aug 2008, 2:43 pm

My son is high functioning and I do take him to a board certified music therapist. She also has a master's degree.

Music therapy is not music lessons. For my child, the music therapist is working on turn taking through music and natural conversation. She has a lot of different "games" that she plays with him. He is very interested in music and not so interested in talking, so I went this route with him. I don't think he would have been helped through traditional talk therapy.

Since music therapy, he has started asking people questions and follow-up questions. He can talk on the phone (not his favorite, but he no longer hangs up on people). His concentration level has increased and he can control frustration/aggression much better now.