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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Spontaneous Imitation by Children with Autism during a Repetitive Musical Play Routine, Summarized Jun 22, 2009

Imitating musical play routines of children with autism may help increase their social interactions.

Imitation is an important way for infants and children to learn to interact socially with other people. Four children (5-8 years old) with autism were given musical instruments that matched ones the therapist had. They used tambourines, castanets, blocks, rhythm sticks, and maracas to imitate simple lively music. The music therapist gave either verbal praise or imitated the child's actions when the child played, danced, and/or sang. When the music therapist imitated the children's behavior, the children were more active and responded to the therapist. Read more...

Effects of Vibroacoustic Music on Challenging Behaviors in Individuals with Autism and Developmental Disabilities, Summarized May 8, 2009

Music therapy may reduce problem behavior in people with autism.

This study was performed in order to see if vibroacoustic music therapy reduced problem behavior in adults with autism. The authors note that patients who received the music therapy did not hurt themselves as much (self-injurious behavior). The patients injured themselves less and less after many sessions of music therapy. The assistants noted that the patients seemed to feel more and more secure as they spent time with the sound of the musics. The authors do not know how the music therapy was able to change the behaviors of the patients with autism. Read more...

The Effect of Background Music and Song Texts on the Emotional Understanding of Children with Autism, Summarized Apr 7, 2009

Background music may help children with autism to learn emotions.

Children with autism need an understanding of emotions to help them with social skills. The purpose of this study was to test whether or not background music and song texts can help to teach emotions to children with autism. All 12 students showed an improved understanding of the four emotions that were taught. Children who had background music and song texts learned better than children who had no music. The children understood sadness, fear, and anger better than they understood happiness. Read more...

Complimentary and Alternative Medicine Treatments for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Summarized Jan 26, 2009

Doctors and patients may benefit if doctors review the science behind complimentary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments for autism.

The best therapies for autism are special education, speech therapy, social skills therapy, and applied behavior analysis (ABA therapy). This review article describes the common use of CAM treatments for autism and grades each one based upon the scientific research that has been done. Secretin has been well studied as a treatment for autism and it has been shown not to help. Music therapy, vitamin B6/magnesium, dimethylglycine, and others have been studied a little bit. There are no studies about whether yoga, folate, or probiotics are able to help with the symptoms of autism. Read more...

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Synonyms for music therapy include: music, piano
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