Objective: Including music in learning environments to assist with developing expressive language skills is becoming common. However, there is limited research on the use of melodic-based communication therapy, specifically, to assist in developing expressive vocabulary skills in preschool aged kids. Melodic-based communication therapy is an intervention designed to pair music and language in speech therapy, targeting non-verbal and limited verbal children with autism. This investigation set out to determine the effectiveness of Melodic Based Communication Therapy as an intervention for children without autism between the ages of 2-4, with limited expressive vocabulary skills. Method: This investigation utilized a single subject A-B single case research design in order to determine if melodic-based communication therapy increased axpressive vocabulary skills. The melodic-based communication application was used to present target melodies and vocabulary words to the participants. Target pictures and objects, provided in the MBCT kit, were also utilized. Participants attended tweo to three, 25-minute sessions per week, for a total of 8 sessions. Results: The results of this investigation demonstrated that incorporating MBCT into speech therapy sessions may be beneficial in improving expressive vocabulary skills. While the data analysis did not indicate a significant difference, the upward trend in the intervention phase indicated a clinical difference. Further investigation is warranted to determine if a signficnat difference exists.
