Music therapy for young children who have special needs

Music therapy is emerging as a valuable tool in early intervention. It has been used for young children with special needs, family centred therapy and hospitalised children to address a wide range of needs. This research project aimed to examine the effects of music therapy by investigating how carers and other professionals perceived their child''s music therapy experience. Qualitative method was employed and open-ended questions were used to generate in-depth interview data. A range of themes were derived by using thematic analysis. Examination of the similarities and differences between the clinical notes and the interview data helped validate the outcome of music therapy intervention and gain more insights into effective practice.