Communicative aspects in music therapy with children with severe learning disabilities

Author(s): en Olminkhof, L. L. J. M.

Journal/Book: Tijdschrift voor Kreatieve Therapie. 1991; Zutphen, Netherlands. Nederlandse Vereniging voor Kreatieve Therapie Postbus 577 7200 AN Zutphen Netherlands. Journal article.

Abstract: The possibility of communicating through music is often mentioned in the literature on music therapy. Communication between client and therapist is essential in order to be able to achieve results in therapy. Is music a suitable aid for interaction between the child with severe learning disabilities and the music therapist? Children with severe learning disabilities are linguistically less skilled than other children, but they are able to make music. By expressing themselves musically these children may be able to communicate in therapy. In music the child is especially able to express its experience and communicate this to the other (the music therapist). This combined with the (musical) reaction of the therapist, yields the possibility of common action (Abs, 1989). The experiental and relational aspects of communication are central to music therapy. Thes aspects are especially important in working with children with severe learning disabilities.

Keyword(s): Children, severe-learning-disabilities.

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