Michela

Michela Brown is an 8-year-old girl. Michaela has been diagnosed with severe autism (F84.0) with intellectual and communication impairments and also has sensory processing disorder and difficulty with speech and attention. Michela is nonverbal and uses a communication device and sign language to communicate. She usually gets impatient and easily frustrated. She suffers from OCD, and her anxiety levels are high, for example she must hold a preferred object at all times in order to regulate herself. It used to be a toothbrush, and recently she has moved on to a bristle block. She experiences a lot of stimming and self-injury behaviors. Her sensory issues are overwhelming to the point that is very hard to calm her down, and this is done at home and also at school through a series of rituals that must be kept pretty strictly during the day, for example she tends to regulate herself by eating certain crunchy snacks at certain times, she also requires swing movements, bath times at certain times, lots of jumping like trampoline, and music has an special soothing effect on her. We have been using Music therapy for a few years now, alone and also in co-treatment with other therapies at In Harmony Pediatric Therapy. She was able to start using her communication device, while she was doing co-treatment of music and Speech therapies. She is currently doing exceptionally well with Music therapy, and we would love to continue to experience the benefits of music therapy alone and also in co-Treatment with OT and Speech therapies. We have insurance to pay for conventional therapies, but we would need support to continue with Music Therapy. We are a family of four. Dad is a teacher; mom stays home to support the needs of Michela and younger sister Alessia. We would very thankful for the opportunity to participate in your program. 

Michela’s current music therapist, Perry Houck wrote: “According to the Individual Music Therapy Assessment Profile (IMTAP), Michela displays significant needs in the areas of expressive & receptive communication, attention, sensorimotor coordination, and sensory processing. Michela occasionally displays aggressive behaviors as reported by the interdisciplinary treatment team at In Harmony Pediatric Therapy. Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) is indicated to address attention, self-regulation, expressive communication, and auditory processing using the following evidence-based techniques: Musical Sensory Orientation Training (MSOT), Musical Attention Control Training (MACT), Symbolic Communication Training through Music (SYCOM), and Auditory Perception Training (APT). With regular attendance, Michela’s current POC has an estimated duration of approximately 6 months (or 30 weeks) receiving Music Therapy 1x a week for 60 minutes. We are requesting $2,550 to cover the cost of 30 individual sessions. The Therabeat, Inc. private pay rate is $90/ individual hour.

All sessions will be conducted by a board-certified and licensed Music

Therapist. Currently, Medicaid and Michela’s private insurance do not cover Music Therapy services. It is my recommendation that Michela receives your scholarship to continue to grow in attention, self-regulation, and communication skills. Visit www.therabeat.com for more information, and feel free to contact me with further questions. “

Perry Houck, NMT, LPMT, MT-BC

Neurologic Music Therapist, Program Director

perry@therabeat.com