Children and adults with a learning disability often find it difficult to communicate with the world around them. Music Therapy is non-verbal and therefore allows each client to connect with the world by using music. Music Therapists cater their approach to meet the individual needs of each client and deliver sessions that focus on achieving the established goals.
Autism – Difficulty mastering certain academic skills can stem from pervasive developmental disorders such as autism and Asperger’s syndrome. Children with autism spectrum disordersmay have trouble communicating, reading body language, learning basic skills, making friends, and making eye contact.
ADHD – Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), while not considered a learning disability, can certainly disrupt learning. Children with ADHD often have problems sitting still, staying focused, following instructions, staying organized, and completing homework.
Other disabilities which impact learning:
| Disability | Results in difficulty with… |
| Dyslexia | reading, writing, spelling, speaking |
| Dyscalculia | doing math problems, understanding time, using money |
| Dysgraphia | handwriting, spelling, organizing ideas |
| Dyspraxia | fine motor skills (problems with hand-eye coordination, balance, manual dexterity) |
| Dysphasia/Aphasia | language (problems understanding spoken language, poor reading comprehension) |
| Auditory Processing Disorder | reading, comprehension, language |
| Visual Processing Disorder | reading, math, maps, charts, symbols, pictures |