Want to know more about Music Therapy Programme - Singapore ...

When Music Speaks.....
At the SGH Centre for Hearing and Ear Implants, we believe that
most children with hearing impairment have the potential not
only to hear, but to listen, and associate sound with meaning.
Since 2001, the Listen & Talk Programme has been helping
children with various degrees of hearing impairment to listen
and use spoken language to communicate and to lead normal
lives, through its Auditory-Verbal Therapy and other services.
Music
to
theE
ars
Music Therapy Programme by the
Centre for Hearing and Ear Implants
Music can motivate these hearing-impaired children to achieve
even better learning outcome and enhance their speech and
language development.
“It is easy to assume that music would be an inappropriate
therapeutic medium for children with hearing losses because music
is considered primarily an auditory art form. However, some aspects
of music, such as its vibro-tactile features, wide frequency range,
and common pairing with lyrics, make it a useful tool for promoting
language development, social and emotional well being, and for
encouraging optimal use of residual hearing. Research studies have
shown that music therapy is a useful tool for therapeutic aims such
as speech production, the development of vocabulary, and sound
awareness or discrimination.”
Kate Gfeller, PhD. Professor of Music Therapy; Speech Pathology &
Audiology at the University of Iowa
Contact Us
For more information on the Music Therapy Programme or other services
provided by the Centre, please contact us at:
Centre for Hearing & Ear Implants
Block 3 Basement 1, ENT Centre
Singapore General Hospital
Outram Road
Singapore 169608
Phone: 6326 5404 / 6872
Fax: 6321 3523 / 6326 6307
Email: golisten@sgh.com.sg
Website: www.sgh.com.sg/ListenAndTalk/
Supported by:

What is Music to the Ears?
Music to the Ears is an individualised music therapy programme
specially designed for hearing impaired children. Offered by
a Board-Certified Music Therapist, Music to the Ears aims to
provide the children with a multi-sensory approach to learning
through a fun and interactive music-making experience.
Benefits of Music Therapy
Music therapy techniques can effectively work on issues related
to prosodic features of speech, such as rhythm, intonation, rate
and stress. Breathing, timing, pitch and articulation needed for
singing songs have positive effects on speech.
Vocal training on fundamental frequency and singing songs in
appropriate keys also help to improve speech intelligibility.
Musical experience also improves the child’s motivation as it
provides a multi-sensory approach to learning that can help the
child to internalise the meaning of new words.
What is Music Therapy?
Music therapy is an established allied health profession where
music and music activities are used to address physical,
psychological, cognitive and social needs of individuals. It is
the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions
to accomplish individualised goals within a therapeutic
relationship by a qualified professional who has completed an
approved music therapy programme (American Music Therapy
Association Definition, 2005).
Music therapy is proven to have dramatic effects on individuals
of various ages and abilities. It is applicable but not limited to
critical care, developmental disabilities, emotional trauma, geriatric
care, hearing/speech & language/ visual impairment, psychiatric,
neonatal care, obstetrics, cancer and physical disabilities.
In hospitals, music can be used to alleviate pain in conjunction
with anaesthesia or pain medication, elevate patients’ mood and
counteract depression, promote physical rehabilitation, induce
sleep, reduce muscle tension for relaxation and maintain a
person’s quality of life.
In a music therapy programme, the child not only learns about
music itself but also benefits from being able to do a task which
a typically hearing child can do.
Musical activities provide children with an effective avenue for
expressing their emotions. Studies have shown that adding
music to the rehabilitation process increases the uptake of new
concepts and improves the child’s motivation to learn.
Who can benefit from
Music to the Ears?
Music therapy is recommended as an intervention approach
which compliments Auditory-Verbal Therapy, for individuals
who are fitted with hearing devices. It is also recommended for
children with Auditory Processing Disorder.