Photo by Rob Hobson on Unsplash
A specially-designed training method – Cognitivo-Musical Training (CMT) – for children with dyslexia, was tested by researchers in Marseille, France, and adds to the evidence that music can improve speech and language difficulties.
The method is based upon three principles:
(1) music-language analogies: training dyslexics with music could contribute to improve brain circuits which are common to music and language processes;
(2) the temporal and rhythmic features of music, which could exert a positive effect on the multiple dimensions of the “temporal deficit” characteristic of some types of dyslexia; and
(3) cross-modal integration, based on converging evidence of impaired connectivity between brain regions in dyslexia and related disorders.
The CMT method was designed by speech therapists and the exercises covered various dimensions and components of music: pitch, duration, tempo, pulsation, and rhythm and that aimed at developing both the perception and the production sides.
A group of 12 children aged between 8-12 years-old, all diagnosed with severe dyslexia, took part in the study. Two separate studies were carried out, one in which the children received intensive musical exercises concentrated over an 18 hour period over three consecutive days (six hours per day), and the other in which the 18 hours of musical training were spread over six weeks.
Both studies showed significant improvements in some untrained, linguistic and non-linguistic variables. The first one yielded significant improvement in categorical perception and auditory perception of temporal components of speech. The second study revealed additional improvements in auditory attention, phonological awareness (syllable fusion), reading abilities, and repetition of pseudo-words. Importantly, most improvements persisted after an untrained period of six weeks.
These results provide new additional arguments for using music as part of systematic therapeutic and instructional practice for dyslexic children.
SOURCES:
Frontiers in Psychology: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00026/full
DETAILS:
| BENEFIT: | AUDITORY PERCEPTION AND LITERACY |
| TARGET GROUP: | CHILDREN |
| AGE: | 8-12 YEARS-OLD |
| MUSIC TYPE: | GENERAL |
| TYPE OF STUDY: | ACADEMIC RESEARCH |
| NOs INVOLVED: | 12 |
| PERIOD OF STUDY: | 6 WEEKS |
| DATE: | 2016 |
| PLACE: | FRANCE |
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