Resources & references

This accessible video explains what is a visual impairment and how it affects children. It summarizes 5 different research articles about music therapy for children with visual impairment. It also provides a list of practice guidelines for music therapists working with children who have a visual impairment.

This video shows examples of music therapy sessions and perspectives from music therapists and the Children's Hospital in Boston.

Board Certified music therapy program at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Funded by Children's Miracle Network - Herskey. By manipulating the elements of a song, music therapists help control a patient's pain and anxiety, ease adjustment to the hospital setting and promote rehabilitation.

Watch how certified music therapist  Amy Smith supports children in a pediatric hospital setting, with specific examples from neonatal intensive care (NICU) and rehabilitation.

Presentation by Tanya Lavoie, certified music therapist, working at the Montreal Children's Hospital.

Watch how music therapy is provided in a pediatric hospital setting to work on a variety of goals with children with diverse needs.

See how music therapy is used in a pediatric hospital setting. Goals discussed include tolerance of medical procedures, pain and anxiety management, and stabilization of vital signs.

Read a Cochrane review on the effects of music therapy for autistic people, updated in 2022. Results show with moderate certainty an increased chance of global improvement and quality of life for autistic individuals, as compared to placebo and standard care conditions. Notable limitations include the age of participants, with no results able to be drawn between autism and music therapy for individuals older than young adults. Long-term effects are also understudied. 

This research article evaluated how music therapy can help children, teenagers, and young adults with cancer and blood disorders. It determined that music therapy is highly beneficial to have in an interdisciplinary team to manage symptoms and provide psychosocial care. 

Music therapy allows children with visual impairment to reach their goals and develop their motor, cognitive and communications skills. Children who are part of the group explain why they enjoy music therapy. 

This study employed an online survey to investigate current approaches, clinical interventions, and outcome measures used by music therapists working with young children with acquired communication impairments (ACIs)  to address language- and communication-oriented goals. Among the diverse range of interventions employed by music therapists, song singing, vocal improvisation, and music and play emerged as the most effective techniques for supporting individuals with ACIs in achieving their goals. 

Watch the music therapy journey of a young girl with cerebral palsy and blindness. Her mother tells the changes she witnesses in her daugther during music therapy sessions. Also, this video explains how music therapy is provided in Northen Ireland. The Royal National Institute for the Blind advocates for more music therary access for children in this country.