Unexpected connection with a young boy with autism

I love a good surprise.  A great one happened to me recently.  The week before I have to admit was not my best session with a young boy with autism that I work with.  He was distracted, and I could not get him to focus on me.  One of the things that was distracting him was a book.  I decided to make up a song for the book while he was reading it.  I thought it did not really work that well because he did not engage in the song.  He simply kept reading it as though I wasn't doing anything.

The following week I went to see him.  The session started great with a lot of interaction.  He then went and got the book from the previous week.  He opened up the book and looked at me.  I started singing the song, and he sang it with me while making eye contact.  It was a good surprise.  I love a good surprise.

A man with autism opening up communication with his mother in Mountain Home

I have really enjoyed working with a young adult man with autism.  He had some very limited communication when he was going to school, but has stopped any form of communication since leaving school. 

As part of music therapy, I have been having him indicate with gestures and signing yes what music he wants to do and/or what instruments he wants to play and wants me to play.  The more that I have been doing with him, the more he has been readily letting me know what he wants.

His mother told me, she has been doing the same thing, and has been very happy because he has been communicating with her.  I love how music therapy can open doors of communication. 

Music therapy with a young man with autism

It has been really fun working with this 7 year old boy with autism that I see.  The music therapy has been really great at helping him make social connections.  It has been fun to watch him begin answering questions in the context of the songs, singing with me, and asking me for his favorite music.

At the last session, during one of his favorite songs, he made a point of looking at me to make eye contact and make sure that we were in sync musically.  That was so huge because eye contact in general is a difficutl thing for people with autism.  But not only was he making eye contact, he was making eye contact for a specific social purpose!

Music Therapy helps a young adult increase motor skills

Music therapy is tricky.  Not in a bad way, but it is tricky.  People who have difficulty moving their arms often have physical therapy where they make them do a series of exercises to increase their range of motion and their stamina.  Here is where the music therapy is tricky.  I work with people and make them do "exercises" while playing instruments.

It has been fun working with a young adult man who has significant difficulties in moving his arms.  But he loves to play the rhythm instruments.  He has been able to really improve how much movement he has, and has increased how long he do play the instruments.  He even has a huge smile while he is doing it!

Music therapy gives unique connection for a young adult with autism

I am working with a young woman with autism who recently became an aunt again.  Her little nephew (2 months old) was with us in our last session.  The young woman talks only rarely, but will sing if I give her prompts.  Lately I have been working with her doing improvisational song writing.  We make up a song about anything and she smiles as she sings our simple made up song.  This time we did a song about her baby nephew.  She got the pattern of the song and sang more than I have heard her sing during this intervention.  The most exciting thing was to watch her look at her nephew and she sang with more tenderness than I have ever heard.  This is the first time I have seen her even look at her nephew.  It was a sweet experience to see.

A Boy with Autism Finds a Musical Voice

Music allows people to find success.  I work with a young boy who has autism.  He speaks almost exclusively in eccholalia.  He will only repeat what you say when you ask a question, or he will say the same phrase over and over without meaning.  During a recent session I picked up a small xylophone toy he has.  It only has 6 notes on it.  I played a short pattern, and shockingly he played the same notes and rhythm I had just played!  I was surprised.  I then played the first 8 notes of Twinkle, Twinkle, Litte Star and was astounded when he played the next 8 eight notes in the song!  The musical ability he displayed in that moment is extraordinary for any child.  Without me showing him how or giving any direction he was able to figure out the remaining melody of a song and play it note perfect.  I credit music with the ability to give him the opportunity to connect in a meaningful way.  It opens those windows to the soul that show how extraodinary the people I work with can be.

Music Therapy Group for Preschool age children with disabilities

Right now I am working with Idaho Parents Unlimited to try and get a music therapy group for preschool children with special needs.  We are asking for people to spread the word.  Please let people know.  The group will be working on social skills, communication skills, emotional expression plus much more.  All of this in a fun way so that we are working on the skills without the childretn feeling like we are working on the skills.  Have anybody who is interested contact me at matthewjordan@musicmakesconnections.com or they can call or text me at 286-5508.

Giving words to an aphasia patient through music therapy

It was been an awesome experience working with a woman who has had a stroke and can't speak because of the stroke.  The only word that she can say is, "no."  While working with her, we worked first to get her to match sounds while singing.  Now I have written some simple songs for her to learn with phrases that she wants to be able to say.  She can sing a lot more words than she can say right now.  Obviously the goal is to get her to be able to say rather than sing some things.

There was something amazing that happened at our last session.  One of her favorite phrases is "lock the door" because she is always trying to remind her family to lock the door at night.  For a while now she has been able to sing the phrases, and last session she actually said the phrase.  That was amazing.

Music Therapy with a young boy with autism

I recently went to see a young boy with autism at his home.  When I got there, I could hear him screaming when I was outside the door.  When they opened the door, it was clear he was upset.  He was wondering around, screaming asking for things, but not really wanting what he was asking for because when his mom would give it to hm he would just scream and ask for something else.

The mom looked at me and said, "go ahead and see what you can do."  I took out my guitar and strummed a chord.  The boy stopped.  He looked at me.  He came over and we sang and played instruments.  It doesn't always work that quickly and dramatically, but it has worked like that enough that I wasn't surprised.

Music therapy with a child with autism

One of the most exciting thing is the first time you hear someone speak.  I was working with a young girl with autism in a music therapy group.  She can speak, but I had never heard speak.  Obviously this is not uncommon with people with autism.  I gave her plenty of opportunities to speak during the group, but she would never take it. 

At the end of the group I was singing the good bye song.  Out of the corner of my eye I see her mouthing the words.  Maybe not singing, but definately participating.  That was exciting.  When the group was over, the staff working with her encouraged her to say good bye to me.  Imagine my surprise and the suprise on the face of the staff member when she looked up at me and said, "Good bye Matthew."