Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
The potential benefits of music therapy as it applies to autism have long been recognized, and schools sometimes offer music therapy to their students. But even though music therapy has proven helpful for children as well as adults, music therapy services outside these institutions remain limited.
WHY music therapy can help
Music therapy supports children, adolescents and adults with autism as they work towards therapeutic goals. Music therapy can be particularly effective with this clientele as studies show that their music processing abilities remain intact, despite impairments in other domains.
Music therapy can help this clientele to:
- Recognize, express and/or manage emotions
- Develop tools and resources to support communication
- Improve self-esteem and confidence
- Decrease anxiety
- Improve concentration
- Enhance feelings of empowerment
- Have enjoyable experiences
- Improve self-regulation
- Explore personal relationships with music
- Diversify interests
- Enhance relaxation
- Work towards self-acceptance and expression
HOW music therapy is used
A variety of music therapy interventions, methods and techniques can be used with this clientele. The methods chosen may be receptive, improvisational, compositional, or re-recreative.
These sessions can include:
- Relaxation to music
- Song choice, listening, and discussion
- Singing and playing songs
- Lyric analysis
- Song writing and composition
- Vocal and instrumental improvisation
- Music creation using technology
- Music and movement experiences
- Music listening and visual arts experiences.
Research and references
At the Institute, we believe sharing knowledge is a fundamental part of our role. Our Resources includes a growing list of research articles, presentations, videos and other documents, all dedicated to demonstrating how music therapy can positively impact this population and many others.
You will find these references, and more:
- Scientific publication: Ethnomusicological perspectives on autism, neurodiversity, and music therapy
- Scientific publication: Forms of vitality and microanalysis in music therapy within adult autism: A clinical Report
- Scientific publication: Vocal Connection - How voicework in music therapy helped a young girl with severe learning disabilities and autism to engage in her learning.
- Video: Discovering my voice: a peek through Sams' music therapy journey
To discover those references and other available sources of information, click here: Resources & references about Autism