Music therapy for young children with acquired communication impairments: an international survey of clinical practices

Introduction: Acquired communication impairments (ACIs) can significantly hinder the development and functioning of language and communication in children, impeding their social interactions and self-expression. Music therapy is emerging as a favourable practice in supporting children with ACIs; however, a deeper understanding of the clinical practices of music therapists with this population is required to advance service provision.

Method: This study employed an online cross-sectional descriptive survey to investigate current approaches, clinical interventions, and outcome measures used by music therapists working with young children with ACIs to address language- and communication-oriented goals. Fifty-four music therapists across ten countries completed a 16-item online questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and conventional content analysis were used to analyse the data.

Results: Respondents demonstrated a notable preference for humanistic and integrative approaches in their clinical practice. 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 communication goals. Additionally, collaborative endeavours with speech and language therapists were considered the most impactful approach to intervention. Respondents also sought alternative non-standardised evaluation methods, driven by a scarcity of suitable measures, to evaluate the effectiveness of their work.

Discussion: There exists a high degree of heterogeneity in clinical practices amongst music therapists working with children with ACIs, reflecting diverse backgrounds and approaches. The absence of clear trends or dominant approaches emphasises the necessity for further research to establish evidence-based practices for this population.