The Connected Music Therapy Teleintervention Approach (CoMTTA) and its application to family-centred programs for young children with hearing loss

The use of real-time video conferencing platforms in providing health and therapeutic services is increasing, bringing potential access, financial, and time advantages. Music therapy services are beginning to enter this space and are exploring the efficacy of interventions delivered through these platforms. Due to an opportunity to undertake a collaborative teleintervention project with children with hearing loss and their families, a need was identified to consider how this technology could be used in group settings. This led to the development of the Connected Music Therapy Teleintervention Approach (CoMTTA) which incorporates the following four areas: 1) delivery models; 2) session plan framework; 3) technology practice features and 4) additional considerations. In this paper, the features of CoMTTA are detailed and explored through the description of implemented delivery models, the author practitioners' observations, and evaluative feedback received from participating families and collaborating service provider staff. Benefits highlighted by this initial implementation of CoMTTA include accessibility to services not available to families in their location, reduced isolation experienced by families in rural and remote areas, and an observed high level of parent/carer-child interaction and parental skill development. Challenges range from technological issues encountered by service providers and families, through to potential obstacles in the development of the therapeutic relationship caused by communication difficulties, further impeded by the hearing difficulties experienced by the children. It is recommended that further practitioner research be undertaken within this field, particularly focused toward group work in order to develop this approach.