Informed Songwriting Practice For Music Therapy Treatment of Childhood Speech Sound Disorders

Developmental speech sound disorders (SSDs) are characterized by impairment of the production of speech sounds that form words for verbal communication, either due to flawed articulatory or phonological processes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the nexus of music therapy and specific speech-language therapy interventions to treat children with speech sound disorders. Using the Neurologic Music Therapy Transformational Design Model and considerations for strategic songwriting, the researcher has developed a process for strategic songwriting in music therapy treatment of childhood SSDs. Two originally composed songs and their clinical applications are presented.