Life is about Music
Little Prince (a pseudonym), a four and a half-year-old boy, struggled to follow instructions and play with other children when he was in kindergarten. His teachers noticed these difficulties, and his mother also observed that he was particularly sensitive to sound. Whenever music was played at a slightly higher volume at home, he would become extremely agitated and demand that it be turned off immediately. His parents were deeply worried about his development and were unsure how to manage the impact of his sound sensitivity on his emotions.
In search of appropriate training, they enrolled him in a music therapy programme in November 2023, provided by Watchdog Early Education Centre and funded by the Chest. Music therapists used various musical activities to guide children in imitation, concentration, hand-eye coordination, auditory discrimination and verbal response.
After nearly a year of music therapy, his mother noticed tremendous progress: “His emotions have become more stable. Previously, he wouldn’t allow us to play music at home, but now he actively asks for it. He has also made noticeable progress in following instructions.”
What made his parents most pleased was his successful performance in a talent show arranged by the centre, in front of hundreds of people. Although he initially showed some emotional fluctuations, he ultimately overcame his sound sensitivity and fear of large crowds, completing the performance successfully. His parents firmly believe that music therapy has had a profoundly positive impact on their son, helping him regulate his emotions and behaviour while also improving his social skills.
As the primary caregiver, his mother sometimes felt discouraged while caring for a child with special needs. However, the companionship and support from others gave her the strength to persevere. She now proactively shares her experiences on interacting with special educational needs (SEN) children, hoping that society will gradually accept and integrate them.
The Chest continues to play an active role in society, funding various member agencies to provide support services. These include educational and training support for children with special needs, helping them develop physically, linguistically, intellectually and socially, ultimately assisting them in integrating into society.
