Video-analysis of music therapy interaction for children with neurodevelopment delay disorders.

Background. Children affected by neurodevelopmental delay disorders have motor, linguistic, and cognitive problems that affect their skills in various domains, especially interpersonal ones. Because music therapy is based on musical interaction, this three-case study explores how children-music therapists’ interactions change within and between sessions. Moreover, we evaluated whether the children's and parents’ musical interaction changed in everyday life. Methods. Hence, we recruited three children with neurodevelopmental delay disorders. Music therapists performed 70 sessions, adopting a psychodynamic approach and relying primarily on improvisation techniques. The initial and final sessions were video-recorded, codified with the Kategoriensystem Musik Therapie (KAMUTHE) in the 10th and 30th minutes. Videos were analyzed using Boris software. In addition, parents completed the Music in Everyday Life (MEL) Scale to evaluate how parents experienced musical activities with their children. Reliable Change Indexes were calculated to assess significative change in everyday musical activities. Results. Based on video analysis, all children were more active at the 30th minute and the post-test, while music therapists had to stimulate them less. In addition, based on RCIs, parents reported an increased musical engagement with two children. Conclusions. In conclusion, children affected by neurodevelopmental delay disorders can modify their interaction style and improve impaired areas with music therapy.