| Many parents whose child has been diagnosed with | | | | and discomfort they experience. It also helps to relax |
| having cerebral palsy will wonder how music and | | | | them by causing the muscles and nerves to become |
| dance is going to help their child manage their | | | | stress free. |
| disability. What these parents forget is that people | | | | Research has established that music has a healing and |
| are known to respond positively to music. Music is a | | | | soothing effect o the right side of the brain and is |
| wonderful therapeutic tool, which can be used by | | | | especially useful in children who are slow learners. In |
| those who are unable to express themselves while | | | | children affected by cerebral palsy, most of the limb |
| they communicate. Children with cerebral palsy often | | | | movements are not in coordination. Their muscles |
| find it difficult to talk and thus express themselves | | | | refuse to move in tandem and this makes it difficult |
| with clarity. Their speech is muffled. This happens | | | | for them to move around anywhere. As they grow |
| because the tongue and throat muscles are affected | | | | up they go into depression as their self-confidence |
| due to the disability. | | | | and self-esteem is at the lowest. Music therapy helps |
| When music therapy is incorporated in the treatment | | | | to elevate their moods and gives them |
| of cerebral palsy, these patients are better able to | | | | self-confidence. |
| deal with their disability over a period. A good music | | | | Music therapists can be found either with the help of |
| therapist will help the child to understand himself or | | | | your physician or through the internet. You can even |
| herself much better and come to terms with their | | | | place an advertisement in your local newspaper for a |
| problems. | | | | music therapist for your child. You can talk to family |
| When music is used as a therapy, it helps to restore | | | | and friends and find out if they personally know of |
| confidence, mental and emotional well being in the | | | | any music therapist who will be able to help your child |
| child with cerebral palsy. When children are taught to | | | | who is suffering from cerebral palsy. |
| sing they can improve their communication and | | | | Initially, a child with cerebral palsy may offer some |
| speech skills through better breath control, | | | | resistance to learning music but the music therapist |
| vocalization, rhythm and so on. If these children are | | | | will surely find ways in which they are able to engage |
| taught to handle music instruments then they can | | | | the mind of your child. Soon you will find that your |
| achieve better muscle coordination, balance and | | | | child is responding well to music and there will be |
| strength. Music also helps them in their social skills by | | | | marked improvement in their muscle coordination and |
| making them feel important and it helps boost up | | | | even marked improvement in the speaking skills. |
| their confidence and self-esteem. | | | | Music therapy is one of the alternative treatments |
| Many patients who are taught music find that they | | | | used for treating patients who are known to be |
| are able to distract their minds away from the pain | | | | suffering from cerebral palsy. |