AEIOU News

The power of music assisting children with autism

Mon, 17 May 10

MEDIA RELEASE

MAY 2010

THE POWER OF MUSIC ASSISTING CHILDREN WITH AUTISM

The metaphor of finding your voice through song couldn’t be more true than for children with autism. Evidence is showing music therapy, a professional discipline at the AEIOU Foundation is benefiting the socialisation, communication, self-expression and sensory motor skills of children with autism as well as improving academic achievement.  

Music is a universal language that crosses boundaries of age and culture; it is a motivating and calming medium that stimulates all of the senses and facilitates age appropriate cognitive functioning, language skills and other developmental skills.

Autism is a life-long disorder that affects approximately 1 in 160 Australian children. It impairs social skills, information processing and communication and although currently has no cure, autism early intervention programs like the one offered at AEIOU aim to help children overcome their difficulties and reach their full potential.

Through singing and doing, concepts such as in, out, under, over, fast, slow, loud, soft (which can be confusing to a child with ASD) can be made clear and develops their fine and gross motor skills.

AEIOU’s Music Therapist Nerida Jones works with non-communicative children each day and sees evidence of her hard work paying off as a child learns to communicate and express themselves through song.

Ms Jones said ‘as young children with delay in development are not necessarily delayed in their music skills, singing and playing music provides an alternate means of expression and recreation for children with autism’.

Nerida said ‘sharing a common musical experience may also create an atmosphere where it is more likely that they will be heard and understood on a deeper level. Autistic children may be able to express more through song than they communicate through words.’

‘Music therapy allows my students to experience a sense of success and fun while pursuing other non-musical goals and achieve therapeutic aims’ she said.  

‘A student of mine could sing before she could talk. Using music was a great facilitator for her to express herself so we communicate through her favourite songs’ she said.

The AEIOU Foundation  is a not-for-profit organisation providing Queensland’s only full time early intervention and learning program for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders between 2½ and 5 years of age. They operate 6 autism-specific centres across Queensland.

 AEIOU’s annual fundraising event,  Lynn’s Lunch on Friday 14 May was  hosted by Melissa Downes and featured guest performances by Jonathon Welch, Director to the Choir of Hope and Inspiration (formerly Hard Knocks) and motivational speaker and award-winning blind guitarist, Lorin Nicholson. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house during a moving  performance of Halleluiah by Jonathon and Lorin after their inspirational speeches about their experiences with music overcoming adversity.

Jonathon Welch said ‘singing and music-making creates a healthier environment for those who may have no other way to connect with their family or community. To be part of a choir is about the want to give back to the community, to participate, contribute and to be acknowledged in society’ he said.

‘The positive effects of music can be huge; it can literally change a life’ he said.

AEIOU’s early intervention programs include music therapy (along with speech therapy, occupational therapy and early childhood teaching). Donations to support the program and its expansion across the state can be made at www.aeiou.org.au/aeiou-donations

Media enquiries:

Laura Daley, Fundraising and Communications Coordinator, p: 3320 7555.