Neurologic Music Therapy Breakdown: DSLM

Welcome back to our NMT breakdown! Last time we placed a spotlight on Musical Attention Control Training (MACT) which fell under the cognitive category of NMT. This time we will be focusing on a different aspect, speech and language development. The technique we will be elaborating on is Developmental Speech and Language Training or DSLM.

Developmental Speech and Language Training

What is DSLM?

DSLM is the specific use of developmentally appropriate musical materials and experiences to enhance speech and language development through singing, chanting, playing musical instruments, and combining music, speech, and movement (Thaut 2005). 

Put simply DSLM is the use of music/music experiences to increase speech and language skills. 

Focus on the Functionality 

Being able to communicate your wants and needs is so important. If you need help, are hurt, want to share something with someone, each of these require functional use of speech and language. DSLM focuses on the functional use of speech and language for communication. This focus on the functional includes communication of all types whether that be verbal, signed, picture exchange (PECS), or through alternative and augmentative communication (AAC). 

What can be targeted by DSLM?

Speech Production:

• Initiation - This is when air is expelled from the lungs to create airflow in the vocal tract.

• Phonation - The production of speech sounds.

• Articulation - The clarity of speech sounds, clear and distinct speech sounds.

• Intelligibility - The degree to which a sound is able to be interpreted correctly by a listener. 

Language Development:

• Vocabulary - The words known by a language user.

• Grammar - The structure of speech.

• Syntax - The way in which words are arranged, a set of rules in relation to how words are arranged.

• Semantics - The study of meanings in language. 

• Pragmatics - The use of language socially adapting language based on settings, i.e. reading between the lines, understanding double meanings, and/or understanding context. 

What does this look like in Music Therapy?

In Music Therapy this NMT technique looks different for everyone, as always each session is tailored uniquely for each individual. Sample goals that could be addressed using DSLM include, increase spontaneous speech, improve speech articulation, improve speech production, improve proper speech intonation, increase communication to express wants, increase communication to express needs, and many more. Some examples of this in a session include the various techniques below. 

Techniques:

• Singing

The act of singing engages each part of the speech mechanism. During a session this could include call and response songs, fill in the blank, and using familiar songs to elicit vocal responses. For example, the song Old MacDonald could be used. With this song the therapist might sing through a verse of the song dropping out vocally when the animal sound is meant to occur. The therapist could also drop out in the recurring vocal line “E-I-E-I-_” prompting the individual to complete the missing letter. This can stimulate a spontaneous response from the client.

• Chanting

Utilizing chants can help get around the idea that you are “learning”. Sometimes we work better when we think we’re just having fun, music helps conceal the fact that in Music Therapy we’re actually learning. Chants can help an individual retain information, therefore using chants to learn different consonant sounds, vowel sounds, words, or phrases helps in the learning process. In Music Therapy we could create a chant to work on a specific consonant that is giving an individual trouble. This wouldn’t necessarily require the individual to speak the whole chant, the individual might be cued to vocalize only during the target sound. We might chant:

• “That crazy colored cat came back back back”

• Bounce the Basketball back ba ba ba bounce”

• “ Yummy yummy bubble gum makes me say Mmh Mmh Mmh” 

The underlined sounds are the consonants that are being addressed in each chant.

• Playing Music Instruments

Playing instruments while working on speech and language can be used to work on dynamics, discussing speaking loud and soft. Using a drum for example can be a great way to practice this skill. While playing the drum loud you can sing loudly, vocalize loudly, or speak loudly along. Vice versa with playing soft. You can even work on a medium voice, or what would be an appropriate tone of voice when speaking to others.

• Combining music, speech, and movement

Moving, music, and speech are such a fun trifecta to work with. Not only can music cue speech and stimulate spontaneous verbalization, movement can have a similar effect! A fun activity that includes each of these can be done using colorful scarves. This activity works on receptive language skills, and can be adapted to work on verbalizations. Through a song a Music Therapist might instruct the individual to manipulate a scarf in a specific way such as waving, shaking, or dropping the scarf. And with so many colors the therapist can cue the individual to name the color of the scarf, or take suggestions on how the scarf should be moved next.

• Imitation

Being able to mimic the mouth shapes, facial expressions, and sounds of speech is a huge step in the development of speech and language. This can be worked on during Music Therapy in a multitude of ways. A favorite for younger children is the utilization of preferred music. Baby Shark has and is still a big hit with the younger crowds. The original version is a great gateway to gaining the attention of the individual before moving onto the speech portion. Changing the words from “Baby shark doo doo doo doo doo” to “let’s sing ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh” can keep the focus on the activity while introducing new sounds. The repetition of the sound gives ample opportunity to show the correct mouth shape and sound. This of course can be altered to a plethora of songs.

How does music make this work?

Music has been shown to enhance speech and language skills. Music has an effect on verbal intelligence, pre-literacy skills, reading ability, and reading comprehension. Music also has been shown to increase word recognition and pre-writing skills. Rhythm is important not only in music but in speech as well! We all speak at different cadences and speeds, sometimes too fast or too slow. Providing a steady rhythm can increase communication and social interaction. A steady underlying rhythm can stimulate spontaneous communication, similar to how it can stimulate spontaneous toe tapping or clapping. The different components of music assist in speech and language development and give Music Therapists numerous opportunities to work on these important communication skills. 

Developmental Speech and Language Training Through Music (DSLM) is one of the techniques the NMT certified Music Therapist at Musical Bridges are trained in. Join us as we continue our deep dives into the many different Neurologic Music Therapy techniques.