Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionBenefitsResearchFinding a Music TherapistOther Treatments
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definition
Benefits
Research
Finding a Music Therapist
Other Treatments
Music therapy forautismcan help improve an individual’s skills in social interaction, verbal communication, initiating behavior, and reducing anxiety.
Music therapy is a well-established and risk-free technique for using musical interaction to help individuals with a wide range of cognitive and emotional disabilities improve their ability to function.
This article discusses music therapy for autism, its benefits, and what the research says. It also addresses finding a music therapist and other therapies for autism.
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What Is Music Therapy?
Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish therapy goals.In the case of autism, music therapy helps individuals identify and appropriately express their emotions, and it can stimulate cognitive functioning and help with speech and language skills.
After assessing the strengths and needs of each person, music therapists develop a plan with goals and objectives and then provide appropriate therapy. Music therapists work with both individuals and in small groups, using a variety of music and techniques. A good music therapist should be able to develop strategies that can be implemented at home or school.
It’s important to note that music therapy is not the same asmusical instruction. If your aim is to have your child build vocal or instrumental skills, you’ll need to find an instructor instead of or in addition to a music therapist.
Music therapy may help autistic people to improve skills in areas such as:
The therapist finds music experiences that strike a chord with a particular person, making personal connections and building trust.
Research on Using Music Therapy for Autism
According to a meta-study, “Reported benefits included, but were not limited to increased [neurotypical] social behavior; increased attention to task; increased vocalization, verbalization, gesture, and vocabulary comprehension; increased communication and social skills; enhanced body awareness and coordination; improved self-care skills; and reduced anxiety.”
Another study suggests that family-centered music therapy can build stronger parent-child bonds and perceived enrichment in child and family quality of life.
Researchers who reviewed 10 studies concluded music therapy for people with autism improved behavior, social communication, brain connectivity, and parent-child relationships.
Autistic people often show a heightened interest and response to music, making it an excellent therapeutic tool for working with them.Music therapy can also help people with sensory sensitivity to certain sounds to cope with sound sensitivities or individual differences in auditory processing.
If your child already seems to enjoy and respond to music, it may be worth looking into music therapy providers.
To find a professional music therapist, look for practitioners who have a Music Therapist-Board Certified (MT-BC) credential.
To obtain the MT-BC credential, music therapists must:
Other Options and Therapies for Autism
Currently, there isn’t a single standard treatment for autism, but there are ways to help minimize the symptoms and maximize an autistic person’s abilities. Research shows that early diagnosis and interventions (during preschool or before) are more likely to have major positive effects on symptoms and later skills.
The most effective therapies and interventions are often different for each person. Since there can be an overlap in symptoms between autism and other disorders, treatment should focus on a person’s specific needs. Therapies may include:
Summary
Music therapy for autism is used to help individuals with social interaction, verbal communication, initiating behavior, and reducing anxiety. The benefits of music therapy may include improved communication, social skills, behavior, sensory issues, self-reliance, and parent-child relationships.
Professional music therapists have the MT-BC credential and work in a variety of settings. They assess the strengths and needs of each person and provide therapy using a variety of music and techniques. In addition to music therapy, there are many other treatment options to consider that focus on each person’s specific needs.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Music Therapy Association.What is music therapy?
American Music Therapy Association.Music therapy as a treatment modality for autism spectrum disorders.
Geretsegger M, Elefant C, Mössler KA, Gold C.Music therapy for people with autism spectrum disorder.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2014;(6):CD004381. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004381.pub3
De Vries D, Beck T., Stacey B, Winslow K., Meines, K.Music as a therapeutic intervention with autism: a systematic review of the literature.Therapeutic Recreation Journal. 2015 Jul;49(3).
Gassner L, Geretsegger M, Mayer-Ferbas J.Effectiveness of music therapy for autism spectrum disorder, dementia, depression, insomnia and schizophrenia: update of systematic reviews. Eur J Public Health. 2022 Feb 1;32(1):27-34. doi: 10.1093/eurpub/ckab042
Simhon V, Elefant C, Orkibi H.Associations between music and the sensory system: An integrative review for child therapy. The Arts in Psychotherapy. 2019;64:26-33. doi: 10.1016/j.aip.2018.11.005
American Music Therapy Association.A career in music therapy.2019.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are the treatments for autism?
Autism Speaks.Occupational therapy (OT).
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