Research summaries for 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 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.

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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.

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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.... Read more...

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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Synonyms for music therapy include: music, piano
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