Date of Award

Spring 5-17-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Major

Expressive Therapies

First Advisor

Leticia Prieto Alvarez

Abstract

Cerebral visual impairment (CVI) is the leading cause of visual impairment in children within the United States, and results from neurologic impairment to areas of the brain responsible for processing and interpreting visual input. Due to the brain-based nature of this impairment, improvement in functional vision is possible through the process of neuroplasticity and development of compensatory strategies to improve personal access to the environment and surroundings. Intact vision provides access to information about the world around us, and without this sense children are highly susceptible to developmental delays in the areas of cognition, motor skills, communication, and social functioning. Early intervention by a professional trained to address functional vision is necessary to build understanding in parents and caregivers of how to best support their child’s developmental needs. Music therapy may be an ideal treatment modality to address the needs of individuals with CVI due to music’s capability to promote neuroplasticity and support developmental milestones in all domains of functioning. Following a critical review of the literature, recommendations for music therapists are provided to integrate best practice CVI intervention strategies through a neurodevelopmental lens and support the needs of children ages 0-3 years with CVI and their families.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License.

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