San Diego Music Therapy for Special Needs

Who Does Music Therapy Help?

While music therapy is an effective intervention for treating dementia, pain management, and addiction recovery, Coast Music Therapy passionately strives to be best in one area: children and teens with special needs. Our staff of board certified music therapists direct their focus and apply their knowledge to provide effective San Diego music therapy services for special needs including autism, developmental disabilities, neurologic impairments, speech and communication disorders, and mental health challenges.  Services include music therapy as a related service in schools through the IEP and after-school programs such as adapted music lessons and music recording. 

Why Music Therapy for Children with Special Needs?

Music is… ENGAGING. Therapy for children and teens with special needs works best when it captures their attention and taps into their interests. Using music as therapy is a creative way to help special learners gain skills and make progress in developmental and educational goal areas. In addition, research shows that learners with diagnoses such as autism, Williams syndrome, and Rett syndrome are highly motivated by music, making it an enjoyable form of therapy.

Music is… STRUCTURED.  Does your child flourish in highly predictable and organized environments?  Most often, the answer is yes!  Neurologic Music Therapy research supports the use of music as a mnemonic device to aid in memory and recall of information. Music is inherently structured, with its rhythmic patterns, mathematical elements, and repetition. This makes it an ideal tool to present new language concepts, social scripts, speech phrases, or academic skills. 

Music is… ACCESSIBLE. Even learners with complex needs such as Rett Syndrome, Angelman Syndrome, or multiple disabilities can find connection to melody and rhythm. Everyone can experience, enjoy, and benefit from music, regardless of physical limitation, communication challenge, or cognitive ability. Music embraces people of all ages and can bridge social understanding between special learners and their typically developing peers.

Can Music Therapy Help My Child?

Here are a list of populations Coast Music Therapy commonly helps through the IEP in school settings or after-school at our Mira Mesa San Diego clinic location:

• Angelman syndrome
• Attention deficit disorder (ADD)
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Autism spectrum disorders (ASD)
• Cerebral palsy
• Down syndrome
• Epilepsy
• Fragile X syndrome (FXS)
• Hearing impaired
• Learning disabilities
• Mental health disorders
• Neurologic Impairments
• Orthopedic impairments
• Rett Syndrome
• Spina bifida
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Tuberous sclerosis
• Vision impairments
• Williams syndrome