Autism Therapy: music therapy

definition of music therapy: Type of therapy whereby a trained therapist uses music in all of its facets (physical, emotional, social, etc.) to improve learning, build self-esteem, reduce anxiety or any of a number of treatment goals that are specific to the patient. Music therapy may be helpful for people with autism.

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Psychotherapy of Small Children
Archives of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, by Jaklewicz, H., and Popek L., published in 2009, summarized Apr 8, 2010

Psychotherapy may be useful in helping small children with autism to notice their peers and learn what their peers are feeling.

This article reviews the use of psychotherapy for young children and presents a case study of the use of psychotherapy to treat a child with autism. For small children psychotherapy may involve play therapy, music therapy, or drawings. Music therapy is used because it brings the child back to fetal life and the feel of the mother’s heart beat. Drawing can be used to see the problems that the child is having and to watch the progress of the child during psychotherapy. Drawings may be very helpful in learning about the world of a child with autism.


‘Hath Charms to Soothe…’: An Exploratory Study of How High-functioning Adults with ASD Experience Music
Autism, by Allen, R., Hill E., and Heaton P., published in 2009, summarized Feb 19, 2010

Music therapy may be very helpful for adults with autism.

Twelve high-functioning adults with autism were asked about their personal experiences with music. Some of the adults said they liked using music to help change their moods, reduce loneliness, and have a sense of belonging. Some also said they liked performing music. Some of the adults liked the structure and melodies in classical music. And some adults liked the emotional, mood-changing aspects of pop music. The authors said that many people with autism may respond profoundly to music, and that music may be beneficial in many ways.


Sowing Seeds of Compassion: The Case of a Music Therapy Integration Group
The Arts in Psychotherapy, by Gilboa, A., and Ben-Shetrit S., published in 2009, summarized Jan 29, 2010

Integrating children with autism and normally-developing children in music therapy may help foster compassion.

This study measured kindness in 4 children who were placed together in a music therapy group. The group included two children with pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) and two normally-developing children (9 and 10 years old). The children met for 14 weekly sessions for 30 minutes each. The normally-developing children showed more compassion over the 14-week period. Compassion ranged from tolerating unusual behaviors to an equal-leveled acceptance of the children with autism. Compassionate actions increased from about 2 per session to about 6 per session. The authors think that music therapy encourages compassion by encouraging togetherness and listening to other children.


Teaching Music to Children with Autism: Understandings and Perspectives
Music Educators Journal, by Hourigan, R., and Hourigan A., published in 2009, summarized Dec 7, 2009

Picture exchange communication system (PECS), rehearsal routines, and movements may be useful tools for music teachers who teach children with autism.

This article presents an overview of symptoms of autism disorder to teach music teachers about autism . The main point of the article is to offer suggestions to music teachers who work with people with autism. The authors suggest that repetition and setting routines for the music classroom that may be helpful to the children with autism.


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Heart and Soul Music Therapy Uses Music for Non-Musical Cognitive Goals

Aug 25, 2010

Cynthia Sambrano, a classical musician, gave up the rigors of New York City to become board certified as a music therapist. Sambrano owns Heart and Soul Music Therapy in Payson, Arizona. She uses her talent and instruments to “work on non-musical goals such as cognitive, emotional and behavioral issues, social skills and physical and speech concerns.” Sambrano works with children with autism and explains that while many cannot speak, they can sing and make sounds.

Read original article: Music Therapist Treating Disorders with Rhythm


Creative Arts Therapies Make Use of All Art Forms to Help People with Autism and Other Disabilities

Jul 5, 2010

Creative Arts Therapies (CAT) use art therapy, music therapy, dance/movement therapy, poetry therapy, drama therapy, and psychodrama to help treat autism and other development and psychological delays. Sharon W. Goodill, PhD, defines CAT as "six fields that combine artistic expression with psychotherapy to promote healing, wellness, and personal change." While the six therapies that make up CATs gained professional status in the 1950s, they are each represented by their own professional associations, with an umbrella organization - the National Coalition of Creative Arts Therapies Associations. Creative art therapists usually focus on one area of the arts to treat healthcare issues, but many use a dual focus in their treatment plans for patients. The six therapies have been found to work well with people who have little or no communication skills, for example, children with autism will often be able to dance or paint or make music as a way of expressing themselves. It is a way to show emotions without verbal communication.

Read original article: The Creative Arts Therapies: Making Health Care Whole


Yoga Therapy May Help Kids with Autism

Jun 9, 2010

Denise Reynolds, RD believes that yoga can help children with autism to create a mutual bond with their teachers. Because many children with autism relate better to animals than people, poses such as Down Dog and Tree may stimulate interaction. Integrated Movement Therapy, a yoga-based program in Seattle, combines movement and touch and verbal exercises to help children improve communication and social skills. Reynolds explains, “As the child progresses in the asanas and pranayamas of a yoga routine, a feeling of deep relaxation can strengthen the nervous system and increase concentration and body awareness, thus improving the symptoms of sensory integration dysfunction that often occurs in autism.” Reynolds has also found that many yoga classes for children include massage, music, dance, and stories. She suggests this type of yoga for the entire family as a bonding experience.

Read original article: Yoga Therapy for Children with Autism Found Helpful


Singing, Movement, and Imitation as Therapy for Autism Speech Difficulties

May 3, 2010

Tripp Black an 8 year-old with autism, had lost the ability to speak at age 2. Recently, his parents enrolled him in an experimental therapy program at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center that uses singing, movement, and imitation to improve speech skills. After participating in the therapy, Tripp began saying simple words. Gottfried Schlaug, the director of music and neuroimaging at the medical center has found that music combined with motion helped victims of stroke regain speech, and adapted his therapy to children with autism. For 8 weeks, on a daily basis, 10 children participated in the study. The children would hear sung words, be shown a picture of the word, and have their hands guided to tap drums. Schlaug believes that “the combination of sound and movement can activate a network of brain regions that overlap with brain areas thought to be abnormal in children with autism. Researchers think the intensive, repetitive training on sound paired with motion will help strengthen those abnormal areas.”

Read original article: When Language is Blocked, Music May Offer Detour


Showing 1-4 of 87 results


Please comment on this autism topic.

Music dance

Mar 8, 2010 by john-smith

I have good news for you, Richie and others, inquiring about the use of dance/movement therapy with autistic individuals. I am a dance therapist in Austin TX and there is plenty of valuable use of dance, movement and rhythm for individuals with autism. The concepts are that a person is not merely his/her brain; obviously we are connected through mind, body, and spirit. Therefore if a person can connect with another through movement, then behavioral and cognitive change can result if the neurological patterns are stimulated through dance and movement. Of course, dance is a form of self-expression and release, as well. Engaging in dance and movement can help in that manner, whether it is dancing with the therapist or creating a form of self-expression and having the therapist guide the movement patterns into another shape, rhythm, or form to encourage a different behavior or thought process. Btw It's really nice to discuss with you. I am happy but now I am collecting the php for my friends and other persons. Because I my aim to provide best and knowledgeable material. And I hope you will also like and help me to continue this


Free Sound Therapy Home Programme

Jan 21, 2010 by Anonymous

Dr. Alfred Tomatis, a French otolaryngologist, is recognised as the modern day originator of sound or music therapy. In the early 1950's he developed an effective therapy method using altered music to treat conditions such as auditory processing disorder, dyslexia, attention deficit disorder and autism. Another French doctor, Dr. Guy Bérard, developed a similar method, Auditory Integration Training (AIT), which has found many followers in the USA. From personal experience I know that many clients report improvements in understanding, speech, balance, behaviour and emotional well-being after just two or three weeks of daily sound therapy.

 Sensory Activation Solutions (SAS) is an organisation with Centres in the U.K. and Turkey that provides a unique service for children and adults that face learning or developmental difficulties. When the established educational, psychological or medical services fail to provide adequate support, the SAS methodology often can provide practical solutions that result in noticeable improvements in daily life.

 You may be interested to check out their Free Sound Therapy Home Programme. Their Auditory Activation Method builds on the pioneering work of Dr. Tomatis and Dr. Bérard and has been specifically developed with the aim to improve sensory processing, interhemispheric integration and cognitive functioning. It has helped many children and adults with a wide range of difficulties, ranging from dyslexia and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder to sensory processing disorders and autism. It is not a cure or medical intervention, but a structured training programme that can help alleviate some of the debilitating effects that these conditions can have on speech and physical ability, daily behaviour, emotional well-being and educational or work performance.

 There is no catch, it's absolutely free and most importantly often effective. Check it out at: http://www.sascentre.com/uk/uk_free.html.

 




Movement Therapy

Aug 10, 2009 by Anonymous

Autism Movement Therapy, Inc. is a nonprofit organization focused on serving the autism community by supporting autism research Dr Martha Herbert PhD, TRANSCEND RESEARCH PROGRAM - Mass General Hospital for Children) & environmental organizations The Natural Resources Defense Council & the Environmental Defense Action Fund helping to "clean/green" our planet.

Because Autism is ALL our Responsibility! 

AMT is an autism intervention incorporating movement and music in collaboration with Positive Behavior Support (PBS) strategies to assist individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in meeting and achieving their speech and language, social and academic IEP goals.

Here is an article that appeared in Autism Aspergers Digest about AMT.

You can order the aut-erobics DVD! 

Joanne Lara, MA is the founder.


Blog from 35,000 feet

Aug 7, 2009 by Anonymous

So here we are, already above the clouds on our way to Orlando for our super-fabulous vacation! Finally, no more sleeps until we go! Jonathan and my mother-in-law are sleeping, I’m writing, Thomas is looking at the pictures that Jonathan drew for him and Hayley is probably annoying the hell out of the person in the seat in front of her. I have a hard time sleeping on airplanes because they make me nervous, so I thought I’d write.
The past few weeks with Thomas have been very difficult. He’s been hyperactive and difficult to deal with; the noises he’s been making have been driving us all nuts. He hums the theme music to “Indiana Jones” very loudly (we’re hoping to make it to the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular later today) and this kind of thing makes us quite crazy. Even Hayley has been bothered by it, which is a new thing.
Jonathan and I think that Thomas’ new erratic behavior has a lot to do with the trip which, until right now, has been coming up. He’s been trying so hard to understand and deal with this Disney World thing that he’s been acting out in other undesirable ways. Only this morning was he able to admit that he was excited about going to the airport. Hopefully, once we get on the Mickey Bus, he’ll be able to tentatively admit that he’s excited about Disney World. We got in line this morning, very early at the International Terminal because for SOME REASON, the boarding passes I printed out didn’t work for just me at the skycap. We were ushered into the elite line for security which went very smoothly, luckily. Getting everybody put back together and re-shod after that can be a pain and as a complete surprise to me, the metal E-Z Combs I had in my hair contained enough metal to set off the detector.
Jonathan went to park in long-term parking and re-joined us at the gate like clockwork and the kids got antsy waiting to board the plane, but they’ve been pretty good so far. I’ve just been told that we’re over Indianapolis and we’ll be over Valdosta, Georgia in about an hour. So we still have about two hours to go.
Jonathan and I have been saying “This is crazy, this is crazy, this is crazy!” like Chevy Chase in Vacation right before he goes skinny-dipping with Christie Brinkley. We still can’t believe we’re doing this! I’m up in the air right now and I can’t believe it. Now it’s in God’s hands, I guess.
Thomas has been showing more interest in some of the shows we’ll see in Disney World like the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, the Beauty and the Beast show and the Nemo show. Hopefully, his mood will only improve. Otherwise, we’re screwed. And I know that when I get home, I’ll need a vacation. This is Jonathan’s idea of a vacation: Go, go, go all day, fall into a deep and exhausted sleep at night, wake up the next day, repeat. I like beaches and Mai-Tais and a nice tawdry novel. Oh well. The kids had just better have fun, that’s all. They had better love this time and remember it for always. Now, and only recently, have I begun to understand the emotional and financial undertaking my parents went through when I was in eighth grade and they took my three sisters and me to Disney World. SIX ROUND-TRIP AIRFARES? Good God. Not to mention all of the six-day park hoppers. Hotel. Food. Yikes. So I understand now what that was all about.
I just hope that Thomas responds well to the whole thing. I hope Hayley stops whining. They fought at the airport just after we made it through security about who was going to hold my hand. I mean like, screechy, whiny fighting. Hooray. So what did I do? I bought them both a chocolate donut. And I had coffee with real cream and real sugar.
Hey, I’m on vacation!


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Please comment on music therapy or other autism therapy topics.

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