Music Therapy: Why Auditory Processing is Developed through Movement and Music

By: Integrated Learning Strategies

Movement therapy is a highly effective intervention for many children, contributing to comprehensive brain development. It engages both sides of the brain, fostering neural connections across various areas. This helps enhance language skills, memory, comprehension, emotional grounding, reasoning, and critical thinking. Addressing potential gaps in neural connections through movement therapy can benefit children struggling in school.

While movement greatly supports the vestibular, visual, proprioception, hand-eye coordination, and fine motor systems, as well as addressing primitive reflexes, it doesn't fully address auditory processing. Auditory processing involves tasks like letter and sound retention, following directions, and recalling details for tests or assignments. Thus, while movement therapy is crucial, it's not the sole solution for all learning challenges.

Combining music therapy with movement therapy can address auditory challenges in a child's learning. Music therapy helps improve auditory processing alongside movement interventions. Many children struggle with tasks involving auditory memory, like remembering assignments or details for show-and-tell. Music-based therapy aids in storing, retaining, recalling, and remembering information, and it might also assist in speech and language development.

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