Blog Diary 3

Blog Diary #3:

Tamela and I just had the most amazing therapy session. We saw one of the students she has been seeing for about the last 2 years and that we have been seeing together since December. The student has been non-verbal and is able to make sounds like “ma” and “ba” but rarely any words. Tamela and I have been researching neurology studies about music and the brain so we tried some new strategies today in the treatment session.

All I can say is “WOW”. I am still in shock at how the student responded. We sat the student on the ball and Tamela played the guitar and sang. The student was engaged as usual with the music and was attempting to make sounds, but about 30 minutes into the session I asked her, “What do you want?” Tamela had stopped playing so the student would have to request her to play. The student looked at the guitar. I nudged her and said. “Tell her, ‘I want more music.’” Then the student said, “I want more music.” It was not perfectly spoken but it was clear enough that Tamela and I both knew exactly what she has said. I looked at Tamela in surprise thinking maybe I had just wanted to hear it but when I saw Tamela’s face her eyes were tearing up and her mouth was hanging open.

I know this is a business and I am probably biased and it can sound like shameless promotion but I have been an OT for 14 years!!! I have never been able to see progress with my patients like I see working with Tamela and the music. We all know that music is somehow important and meaningful but it goes far beyond that. Something profound happens in the brain when music is paired with motor and sensory play. Our students come to life in new ways. They can attend to activities longer, they can learn new sounds and motor patterns more readily. The more I see in our sessions and the more I read in theses articles, the more excited I get about what we are doing. It is nothing short of amazing!