Music-centered therapy helps sensitive children
Linda Jo Scott
For the Enquirer
Melanie Grafft knew her 9-year-old son Josh was a sensitive child even before he was born.
"I used to hold earphones over my belly and play music for him," she said. "When I played a certain Mozart overture, he would instantly start kicking and moving around. And after he was born, he would get fussy right away if I played that particular piece."
Josh's sensitivity was not limited to music, however. As a toddler, he hated wearing certain socks. He hated loud noises, such as sirens on fire engines. He couldn't stand for people to put their hands - or anything else - too close to his eyes. He couldn't stand to have tags on his clothing.
Even certain foods, such as mashed potatoes, mushrooms and other pizza toppings not only didn't taste good, they didn't feel good in his mouth.
When these extreme responses began to interfere with Josh's progress in school, his parents decided it was time to get some professional help and took him to the Children's Therapy Center of Battle Creek, where he was diagnosed with what is called Sensory Integration Dysfunction, or SID.
According to Teri Allen, clinical director of the Children's Therapy Center, SID "encompasses a constellation of behaviors that are seen when a child is inadequately putting together information from the senses."
According to Allen, one of the most helpful treatments for Josh - and for most children with SID - is listening to what is called "spectrally-activated music," which, she explained, "forces the ear to work differently."
Again, Josh's mother noticed a difference in his mood after he listened to particular music.
Josh also did extensive work on the Interactive Metronome, a computer-based exercise program to help a child match given rhythms.
"We try to give a child 20,000 repetitions over the course of many weeks, and afterwards we can see definite changes in their brains through various tests," Allen said.
As is often the result of the various kinds of therapy and supervised play in the clinic's colorful playroom, Josh's reading skills and handwriting improved, and since his therapy ended in May after almost a year, he has been less affected by how things sound or feel.
"Josh is a great kid with many strengths and talents," Allen said. "He was very motivated to succeed with the Interactive Metronome portion of his therapy allowing him to make significant gains. Once his sensory integration and coordination improved, he was more successful in all areas of his life."
Josh's grandmother, Janet Wigant, who lives next door to him and sees him every day, said therapy has helped Josh a lot.
"He isn't as angry as he used to be, and it's helped him in his school work," she noted. "I actually see a difference in his whole personality."
Wigant said as she looked back, she realized that Josh's mother, Melanie, suffered from some of the same problems as a child.
"Now that I know what Josh has gone through, I can look back at how loud noises, and having people touching her and not having her shoes and socks on, just right bothered Melanie as a child."
Josh's younger sister, Avrie, 5, is showing some of the same sensitivity, Melanie said, but not to the same extent as Josh.
These days, Josh is a happy, successful third-grader at Beadle Lake Elementary School.
"I miss it," he said of his days at the center. "I especially liked the playroom where I could play on the pirate ship and jump off the zip line onto the mat.
"And I got to get out of school 20 minutes early," he added with a smile.
"There are probably many children out there with similar problems, and nobody recognizes it," Wigant said. "I'm just thankful that Josh's mother had the foresight to recognize it and do something about it."
Linda Jo Scott is a freelance reporter.
