Proof that songs help learning

Multi-sensory learning methods are highly recommended for children with dyslexia, and these approaches often incorporate visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning styles. Songs and videos are particularly effective because they engage multiple senses at once—hearing (auditory), seeing (visual), and sometimes even movement (kinesthetic, through dancing or tapping to rhythm).

A study by Martina Huss, Usha Goswami, and colleagues found that musical training can help dyslexic children improve their reading skills[1]. This is because dyslexia is often linked to difficulties in processing rhythmic patterns, and musical games or interventions that focus on recognising beats can help enhance their ability to distinguish sounds and patterns—skills closely tied to reading.

Music, particularly songs with repetitive lyrics, can help dyslexic learners by breaking down information into manageable chunks and making it easier to remember. Music engages the brain's language and auditory processing areas in ways that traditional learning methods may not.

• According to research by the British Dyslexia Association (BDA), music can help dyslexic children with phonological awareness, memory, and sequencing skills, which are areas they often struggle with.

• Dr. Sally Shaywitz, a leading expert on dyslexia, states in her book Overcoming Dyslexia that rhythm and song can help dyslexic students process language more effectively, particularly by engaging their right brain hemisphere, which processes sounds more holistically[2].

Music and songs have implications on dementia and particularly Alzheimer’s disease. Matziorinis et al (2022) showed that patients who had Alzheimer’s retain knowledge of songs and melodies but could not recall loved ones [3]. We will dive deeper into this in the next blog.

References:

1. Huss, M., Verney, J.P., Fosker, T., Mead, N., & Goswami, U. (2011).
   Music, rhythm, rise time perception, and dyslexia. Cortex, 47(6), 674-689.

2. Overcoming Dyslexia (2020 Edition): Second Edition, Completely Revised and Updated Paperback - by Dr. Sally Shaywitz

3. Matziorinis, A. M. , & Koelsch, S. (2022). The promise of music therapy for Alzheimer's disease: A review. Ann NY Acad Sci., 1516, 11–17. 10.1111/nyas.14864