by Bach Lien

 

Melodious therapy: An autistic child at the Sao Mai Centre sings Loi Chao Buoi Sang (Good Morning) for his teachers and classmates. — VNS Photo Bach Lien

Nine-year-old Dinh Quang Thang claps his hands to the rhythm of the children's song Loi Chao Buoi Sang (Good Morning) that his teacher sings to him. His face brightens as he hums along.

At that moment, it would be difficult to know that he is an autistic child. The boy has had many difficulties in communicating with others since he is born. But he has studied at the Sao Mai (Morning Star) Centre for three years, progressing gradually through the lessons. The songs he has learned there have helped him to socialise with people more effectively, proving music to be good therapy.

"Thang loves singing and he sings almost all time the songs that we taught him at school," said Nguyen Thi Minh Thuy, Thang's teacher at the Sao Mai Centre.

The centre is home to 14 classes for autistic children. Each class is held from Monday to Friday and is comprised of about 15 children. They can learn new songs and sing in the middle of different lessons each day.

"Autistic children often find difficulties in speaking out," said Thuy. "We want to awaken the music ability of children to help them communicate."

At school, children are taught to introduce themselves and say hello and good-bye to the teacher and to friends, memorise and retell stories, and recognise items used in the family home. They are frequently encouraged to learn these skills through singing.

"When they sing, they can hear the sounds of their own voices," said Dr Do Thuy Lan, the centre's director.

Autistic children at the centre can often take part in musical performances, singing and dancing for others to show off and gain confidence in their abilities. Last month, a group of autistic children participated with Vietnamese and foreign artists in the Sound Stuff Festival, an electronic music festival. They also sang and played roles in theatrical productions on the occasion of Handicapped People's Day on April 16.

"We hope that through music, the children can become more open and develop skills to integrate more with other people," said Sound Festival organiser Tri Minh.

"Many people don't know that autistic children who may never speak out can enjoy music and even sing very well," added Lan. "The festival helped give the children an opportunity to interect with others. The fact that the children can take part in musical activities also helps society change habitual negative thinking about the disabled."

In addition to teaching the children to sing, teachers at the Sao Mai centre also encouraging them to listen to music. Twice a week, the children can listen to music in a specific room for an hour.

"The music can make the children calmer," explained Thuy. "It also helps to improve their ability to feel rhythm."

"Music can be an effective therapeutic method," said Lan. "Even people in good health often listen to music to relax when they are tired. Music can help autistic children to relax, become calmer when they get angry or suffer from a crisis."

It also encouraged good behaviour and gave the parents of autistic children new hope in the treatment of their children, she added.

Recognising Thang's ability to memorise songs and lyrics, his mother hired a private teacher to help him learn more music at home but had to stop after about five months.

"Our family's financial condition didn't allow him to continue the studies," said his other, Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet. "It's also very difficult to find a music teacher willing to work with autistic people in Viet Nam." — VNS