Music Therapy in Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Systematic Review Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

It is also important to understand that effective intervention for ASD has multiple criteria. Read more about piano lessons for autism here. The child must have intensive interventions (at least 3–4 h per day), provided at an early age, tailored to the patient’s developmental needs, promoting family inclusion and spontaneous communication with peers.

Other behavior that improved included restlessness, aggression, and noisiness. The children’s behavior was checked using a checklist, and after the therapy sessions, it was found that the behavior of more than half of the group improved by at least two points. An autistic child will first interact with the instrument as they learn to play it which may further encourage them to open up to others. Music may be utilized as a tool to enhance social skills among autistic children.

music therapy for autism

For example, music therapy can be used in conjunction with speech therapy to help individuals improve their speech and language skills. By singing songs or playing instruments together, individuals can practice articulating words and phrases in a fun and engaging way. Music can also be used to help individuals with autism to develop social skills. For example, a music therapist may use group singing activities to help individuals with autism to learn to interact with others. Music therapy for autism involves the use of music to address specific goals.

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The dynamic musical experience provides a safe, nurturing environment in which an individual can feel secure and confident to explore. Because music has stimulating, sensory, motivational and emotive qualities, it can be used as a tool to elicit music, verbal, emotional or corporeal responses and promote interaction and engagement in an enjoyable and often effortless way. An individual will always integrate new information and skills when there is inner motivation and curiosity. In music therapy sessions, experiences can facilitate development in all skill domains. All activities are tailored to the client’s ability level & are designed to utilize his/her/their personal strengths, motivations and interests.

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Children with such impairments are unlikely to engage in social interactions. In addition, their social problems will not gradually improve as the children develop. Because their environments become more complicated, the children increase their understanding of their social discomfort, and may experience increased damage and pain during adolescence.

Music therapy techniques in the area of communication attempt to address speech/vocalization production processes and to stimulate mental processes in respect to conceptualization, symbolization, and comprehension (Thaut, 1984). On the most basic level, the music therapist works to facilitate and support the desire or necessity for communication. Improvised accompaniment to the individual’s habitual expressions or behaviours can demonstrate a communicative relationship between a particular musical sound and the client’s behaviour. Because of individual differences within the autistic population, no universal rules of therapy can be applied. While one individual may respond positively to a certain technique, another might easily be harmed. In,, for example, breaking patterns of isolation by providing alternative relationships with musical stimuli. However, the musical stimuli and experience could also create motility rituals or sensory overload and so must be carefully controlled and structured.

Bruscia (1982) had dramatic results when using music therapy in the assessment and treatment of echolalia. The treatment procedures employed reduced the subjects’ echolalia from 95% of total utterances to under 10% in any setting. Consistent throughout much of the literature is also the finding that skills and abilities acquired in the music therapy setting generalize widely across. In another study, music was found to be helpful in reducing self-injurious behaviors in children with autism. The study found that music therapy helped reduce the frequency, intensity, and duration of self-injurious behaviors. Music has a unique and effective way to help children with ASD reach their full potential. If you are thinking about music therapy for your child, be sure to find a certified music therapist who has experience working with children with ASD.

Most children with autism spectrum disorder experience at least some degree of verbal and non-verbal communication issues. Music therapy is a fun and effective way to promote communication in autistic kids through listening to songs and creating music. These are easier ways of conveying thoughts and emotions than verbal communication. As a parent of a child with autism, you can incorporate music into your daily life to help support your child’s well-being and development. Overall, incorporating music therapy into a comprehensive treatment plan for autism has numerous benefits. By addressing multiple aspects of an individual’s needs through different forms of therapy, including music-based activities, therapists can provide more effective care that supports growth and development across all areas. The evidence we found in this review is of very low to moderate certainty.

Because every individual has a different type of Autism, it is hard to find a “cure-all” for the condition. Instead, we should focus our efforts to help individuals navigate Autism challenges; so that living with Autism can be a bit more manageable.

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