Taking time to listen and learn

Working with special children requires enormous patience and a willingness to ‘listen’ for hidden messages that cannot be verbally expressed. Our music therapist Karen de Kock explains ...

During a recent session one of our most severely disabled residents seemed distracted by a drawing of a flower on my notice board and repeatedly turned his eyes towards it. It’s difficult to understand his needs as he is not always able to make sounds and can only lift his thumb up for ‘yes’ or down for ‘no’.

I established that he wanted me to take the picture down so that he could touch it. With much effort he put his finger down on the orange part of the flower and kept it there. I asked him if it was his favourite colour and he made a strong sound which I interpreted as yes.

I asked him to pick another favourite colour and this time his finger rested on turquoise. He has a very strong bond with his mother who phones regularly to check on his well-being and who through much effort in terms of transport fetches him for home visits during school holidays.

I remembered that his mother’s name is Flora and asked him if the colours and the flower reminded him of her to which he made another excited sound which I took as yes.

I then asked him if he wanted to send his favourite colours to his mother through sound and together we hummed Tula Tula. I experienced a spark from him and enjoyment which was very endearing.