Music and movement are accessible and effective adjuncts to strategies used to ameliorate speech, language and related behaviour problems in children. This paper summarises quantitative and qualitative data to demonstrate processes and positive outcomes for preschool boys' speech, language and behaviour following participation in a program involving SUM&M (Structured use of Music and Movement); an approach that combines the use of music and movement with traditional speech pathology treatment techniques.

The presentation highlights how rhythmic and proprioceptive cues related to music and movement could be relatively effortlessly embedded within creative teaching contexts to complement visual and auditory modality cues. Illustrations are provided to demonstrate how a SUM&M program could engage and motivate preschool boys, assist acquisition of intrinsic cues, enhance learning, improve speech production, expand language use, extend communication and improve behaviour.

The presentation provides a glimpse into the way in which themes, scaffolding, kinesics, proxemics, movement qualities, music and linguistic constructs were linked to develop tailored approaches for three preschool boys with different speech, language and behaviour profiles

Authors: Beverly Joffe

Event: SF08: Speed Papers

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