A retrospective practice based evaluation of music therapy: A single-case study of a four-year-old girl with Rett syndrome—Rebecca's story

• Music therapy shows evidence of supporting positive developmental, functional, social, and emotional outcomes for children with Rett syndrome.
• Individual music therapy was provided to a four-year-old child with Rett syndrome.
• Trend analysis for observations of social and functional outcomes show improvement over the fist six months of music therapy.
• Techniques and approaches used in music therapy can support relational and communicative outcomes for children with Rett syndrome.

IntroductionPrevious research has found that music therapy (MT) with people who have Rett syndrome (RS) benefits physical, communicative and social functioning. Individual MT has been shown to provide conditions which can stimulate intentional communication and increase opportunities for social interaction.Method and resultsRetrospective video analysis was used to assess in-therapy change in hand function and turn-taking during the first six months of MT with a four-year-old child with RS. Trend analysis using Statistical Process Control charts showed an improvement in the frequency of her hand use and turn-taking in MT.ConclusionThe paper discusses the techniques used in MT that provided opportunities for the child with RS to increase non-musical skills related to functional hand use and social interaction. Methods for improving the practice-based evaluation of MT in rare disorders such as RS are also presented.