Autism

Our Philosophy: Autism is a sensorimotor disorder - this means that the brain connections (called neuropathways) needed for normal functioning (movement, speech, control of emotion, social interaction, etc.) are diminished or missing. Autism is also a spectrum disorder - this means the severity of autism varies greatly from person to person. But no matter what degree of autism a client has, NMTSA believes each one to be competent, smart and capable of accomplishing their dreams. It is each therapist's goal to help their client with autism find the accomodations they need to lead a productive and successful life.

Our Approach: Our NMT sessions use rhythm and music to help organize the client's body. Rhythmic interventions such as drumming while walking help form new neuropathways and strengthen those brain connections to improve walking ability, attention, and many other physical abilities. Rhythmic prompts with wind instruments or the guitar can assist in vocal muscles which facilitate speech as well as forming the brain connections to initiate speech.

Great attention is also paid to eliminating repetitive or 'stuck' patterns using rhythm. With rhythm's ability to organize the brain, it can be a powerful tool to break stuck patterns and form new, more functional brain connections.

Cerebral Palsy

This information is coming soon! Please contact us at info@nmtsa.org to discuss how NMTSA can address the needs of persons with Cerebral Palsy.

Down Syndrome

This information is coming soon! Please contact us at info@nmtsa.org to discuss how NMTSA can address the needs of persons with Down Syndrome.

Parkinson's Disease

Our Philosophy: Parkinson's is a degenerative movement regulation disorder that results in difficulty with motor control, gait, coordination, and/or speech. Movement regulation difficulties include difficulty initiating, sustaining, or inhibiting movement. This can affect motor systems, speech, emotional responses, and cognitive abilities. Regardless of the areas affected or the progression of the disease, NMTSA believes that individuals are competent and able to continue to function as independently as possible with therapeutic accommodations. It is the therapist's goal to tailor the individual's treatment goals towards the client's personal needs and lifestyle.

Our Approach: Our NMT sessions utilizes evidence-based techniques to address difficulties with gait, movement regulation, vocal output, and cognition. Research shows that rhythm can affect the brain for up to two weeks. And, because research has also found that rhythm strongly facilitates control of fluid movement, this makes NMT a powerful method of treating the movement and language difficulties characterized in Parkinson's. Entrainment (the brains natural and subconscious ability to process rhythm) and the anticipatory mechanisms of rhythm and music facilitate neuropathway stimulation and strengthening for cognitive tasks such as attention, organization, planning, and other executive functioning.

Traumatic Brain Injury

Our Philosophy: Traumatic Brain Injury is a complex injury that may result in a broad variety of symptoms. These symptoms may effect an individuals functioning in the areas of motor, speech, emotional control, and/or cognition. Difficulties caused by damage in the brain may then result in further developmental difficulties, especially if the injury is acquired at a young age. No matter the time since the injury or the resulting difficulties, NMTSA believes each individual to be competent and capable of achieving their goals. It is each therapist's objective to help their client with a traumatic brain injury find the accommodations they need to lead a productive, successful, and independent life.

Our Approach: At NMTSA, our rehabilitative NMT sessions utilize rhythm and other elements of music to facilitate the acquisition and/or strengthening of functional life skills. These skills include rehabilitation of gait, gross and fine motor control, language/communication, or cognitive abilities (attention, memory, or executive functioning skills).

NMT facilitates change at a neuronal level in a variety of ways (based on the client's individual needs). Research has shown that using rhythm while engaged in gait exercises increases the fluency and independence of walking and other components of mobility. Instruments placed in different angles from the body can facilitate functional movement patterns for the affected arms, legs, or trunk. The brain areas activated by music can by-pass injured areas to develop alternative neuropathways for speech. Playing wind instruments increases oral motor and respiratory control. Organization and participation in musical exercises facilitates greater attention, memory, and cognitive abilities.

Genetic Disorders

This information is coming soon! Please contact us at info@nmtsa.org to discuss how NMTSA can address the needs of persons with various genetic disorders.