Communicating with the uncommunicative: music therapy with pre-verbal adults
Janet Graham,
Janet Graham
Music Therapy Service, Hertfordshire Partnership N.H.S. Trust, Harperbury, Harper Lane, Shenley, Nr. Radlett, Herts WD7 9HQ, UK
Search for more papers by this authorJanet Graham,
Janet Graham
Music Therapy Service, Hertfordshire Partnership N.H.S. Trust, Harperbury, Harper Lane, Shenley, Nr. Radlett, Herts WD7 9HQ, UK
Search for more papers by this authorThis paper is based on research undertaken for the author's M.M.T. (Master of Music Therapy) dissertation, completed in 2001. The clinical work was carried out at a residential unit for adults with learning disability. The research project was sponsored and supervised by the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Centre, whose training courses are validated by The City University.
Summary
This paper is based on a qualitative research project on clinical work carried out at a residential unit for adults with learning disability. Most pre-verbal and nonverbal adults appear able to express emotions such as pain and anger with sounds such as crying, screaming or shouting. These sounds, however, are not always received as communication by care staff and can sometimes lead to further isolation. In addition, some clients make sounds, which seem intended to be self-reassuring or comforting and have become habitual and used as a barrier against others. This study centres on two examples of music therapy with pre-verbal clients where vocalization is used to establish an interactive relationship. In both examples, parallels are drawn with the spontaneous and instinctive strategies used in early parent–infant communication.
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