Music Therapy, Sensory Integration and the Autistic Child (Paperback)

~ Dorita S. Berger (Author) "Imagine yourself in the following circumstances..." (more)
Key Phrases: homeostatic reference points, auditory scanning process, music therapy environment, New York, Academy of Sciences, Virginia Tech Press (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Music therapy is well established as a particularly effective way of working with people with autism - helping them to communicate, ameliorating symptoms of distress and helping them to cope better with an uncertain and confusing world. In this groundbreaking book Dorita Berger looks at the reasons why this is so.

In the first part of the book she looks in detail at those characteristics of autism, especially sensory integration problems, which are amenable to music therapy. In the second part she shows how, at a neurological level, the purity of sound itself can not only open a channel for communication but also effect lasting change in a way not open to other therapeutic modalities. She looks at the nature of music, and in particular melody, showing how the simplicity of music can be `understood' by a child with autism in a way that words cannot, and how this can lead to verbal communication once the patterns are established.

Vignettes throughout the book of music therapy work with children demonstrate the theory in action, and the last section of the book develops the practical application with action plans for music therapy interventions particularly suited for work with children with autism.

Intended primarily for professionals working with children with autism - not only music therapists but also those from other disciplines looking for effective interventions - the book will also be of considerable interest to parents.

About the Author

Dorita S Berger, a concert pianist and educator, is a Board Certified music therapist with an extensive background in university teaching. She has written numerous articles on the impact of music on human development, as well as a book entitled Towards the Zen of Performance. Currently, Dorita runs a Music Therapy Clinic in Norwalk, Connecticut, working one-on-one with people with PDD, autism, language learning delays, sensory issues and anxiety disorders. She also serves as a music therapy consultant to schools and special programs throughout the region.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers; 1 edition (February 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1843107007
• ISBN-13: 978-1843107002
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #648,963 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing resource, interesting, and scholarly, May 19, 2007

By	L. A. Shoecraft "music therapist" (Ohio) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book has been the perfect resource for me as I begin my work with children diagnosed on the autism spectrum. It has provoked creative thought and helped shape my approach to treating these children, especially in regards to initial contact with them. I highly recommend this book to any music therapists, not just those who work with individuals diagnosed with autism.