Music as a motivator for communication for students with deafblindness

Communication with students with deafblindness is an integral part of all aspects of their lives, including cognitive, emotional, and academic development. Finding a motivator for persons with deafblindness to begin and continue to communicate can be a difficult challenge for those who work with this population. Based on research regarding music therapy techniques with other special populations (children with deafness, visual impairments, and multiple impairments), the possibility exists that music and music-therapy techniques may be a motivator for communication for persons with deafblindness. This study examined the use of music as a motivator for communication in students with deafblindness who have emerging expressive language skills.