Exploring the Benefits of Using Music and Therapy to Improve Learning for Children with Dyslexia"
- Ishaan S Ahuja
- Mar 26, 2024
- 3 min read
Dyslexia is a learning disorder inhibiting one’s ability to read. Generally diagnosed in children, dyslexia is caused by a compromised part of the temporal lobe of the brain, which is located primarily in the left hemisphere. The temporal lobe is responsible for phonological processing, which is one’s ability to break up words into individual sounds to read or spell a word. The auditory cortex, also found in the temporal lobe of the brain, is responsible for processing sounds, meaning children with dyslexia also struggle to correlate the sounds each letter makes with the actual character.
Dyslexia’s impact on the temporal lobe has many researchers considering the idea of dyslexia affecting one’s ability to read music. When reading music, one must read notes and symbols on the musical staff, as well as identify which note makes what sound. This is very similar to how people read words, and therefore, these abilities are precisely the ones affected by dyslexia, meaning that reading music should also be an activity affected by the disability.
The musical staff comprises five lines with spaces between each line (four total spaces). An image of the musical staff with notes is below:
Students with dyslexia are generally able to see if a note is on a line or a space but struggle to see which line or space the note is on, making it difficult to read music efficiently. This is one example of how dyslexia may affect one’s ability to read music.
In a previous post, I wrote about the unofficial diagnosis “dysmusia,” which is a disability that causes difficulty in reading musical symbols.
Despite difficulties, music may have benefits for students with dyslexia. Music classes can give them a comfortable place to practice reading and correlating sounds to characters, also known as temporal processing skills. These skills are crucial in reading text, and therefore students being able to learn and practice these skills in a comfortable environment is very important. In addition, playing music allows students with dyslexia to build social skills and self-confidence, which many students with dyslexia lack, as they feel down upon themselves because of their struggle.
One thing I noticed is children with dyslexia are often taken to therapy or special classes to try to manage the disability. However, I believe an alternative way of treating dyslexia is using a combination of therapy and music. If you think about it, therapy probably feels like a boring lecture for a child. However music can provide a feeling of safety and relaxation, allowing children to express themselves and learn more.
In addition, studies show music can significantly aid children with dyslexia improve their temporal/phonological processing skills. For example, in 2000 and 2003, Overy carried out a study with a “series of music games gradually increasing in difficulty and focusing on pace and “‘timing’ skills.” The study was conducted for 15 weeks, showing drastic improvements in phonological processing and spelling.
Therefore, there isn’t a reason not to incorporate music in a child’s journey of overcoming dyslexia. After all, music is proven to be of help and is accomplishing a similar job to what therapy is. So, one should instead have a child go through an enjoyable treatment with a combination of music and therapy rather than a treatment that is monotonous and boring.
As we all know, people of all ages tend to learn better when they are interested in and enjoying something, and I think children with dyslexia should also get to enjoy a therapy full of fun through music.
Comments