Music therapy as a tool for assessing hand use and communicativeness in children with Rett Syndrome.
A six-year-old girl with Rett syndrome was assessed in a multi-disciplinary specialist therapy clinic and aspects of her responsiveness and developmental potential were found in the music therapy assessment. Functional hand use, eye-referencing, motivated and intentional communication were observed and reported through video analysis of a 30 min session of music therapy employing improvisational methods. Absent or reduced hand clasping/plucking, interactive turn-taking, primary and secondary inter-subjectivity, and vocalisation with appropriate emotional expression were evident. Stable truncal positioning and occasional gentle restraint of either hand improved both spontaneous and prompted activity.
Wigram
Tony
T
Department of Music and Music Therapy, University of Aalborg, Institut 10, Kroghstraede 6, 9220 Aalborg Ø, Denmark. tonywigram@hotmail.com
Lawrence
Margaret
M
D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009147:Music Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D015518:Rett Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*