Diagnostic criteria for autism include two main areas: deficits in social communication/interaction and various types of restricted/repetitive behaviors. Increased sensory sensitivity and sensory seeking of certain sensations are some of the most common features of autistic individuals. Music therapy can be an effective way to address these areas by promoting communication, sensory integration, and emotional regulation.
Music can be a way to connect with an autistic person through their interest or passion. Music can be something familiar and predictable, which helps the person feel safe or regulate their state, which can help the person learn new skills. Finally, music can be a way to develop verbal and non-verbal communication.
Benefits of music therapy
Many therapies can help people improve their social skills, emotional growth, academic performance, and even motor control. But music therapy does much more than that. It changes the brain, nurtures cognition, and promotes behavioral changes.
How music therapy can help children with autism:
- Encouragement to talk
By adding consonant sounds, music therapy can help encourage conversation while enhancing language skills.
- Improving language comprehension
Playing songs related to specific activities can improve language comprehension and help children learn the meanings of words.
- Building social skills
Music therapy can promote two-way communication with peers.
- Improve speech development in children with autism
Singing provides examples of speech flow, rhyming and word pronunciation, which can reduce monotonous speech problems in children with autism.
- Coping with sensory issues
Because music stimulates the senses, it addresses sensory issues, focuses attention, and helps redirect self-reinforcing behavior toward socially appropriate behaviors.
- Emotional responses and self-expression
Music gives children with autism the opportunity to move, dance, sing or make noise, which are ways of expressing emotions.
- Stimulation of cognitive function
Both hemispheres of the brain are used to process music, which helps stimulate cognitive function.
Music therapy activities and ideas
Music therapy activities can be used in therapy sessions such as applied behavior analysis therapy, speech therapy, or occupational therapy.
Making music using instruments not only provides emotional fulfillment, but also stimulates the senses and can encourage speech. For example, playing the harmonica can help a child with autism learn to create sounds using the tongue, mouth, and throat.
Dancing to music allows children with autism to express emotions and helps reduce self-stimulatory behaviors. Allow children to move or dance in their own way, coming up with their own methods of self-expression. Dancing helps them learn about their bodies and promotes coordination skills.
While singing or listening to songs, children repeat gestures or clap to the rhythm of the song. Learning simple rhythmic patterns will help a child with autism increase focus and memory. Over time, introduce complex rhythms as children adapt quickly. Using drums or other percussion instruments can also be fun when teaching rhythm patterns.
Musical questions – ask children to listen to a musical sound or phrase and then ask questions to explain what they heard. This will help children with autism match sounds to context while reducing sensory and behavioral problems.
Music therapy for autism is an enjoyable way to gain communication and social skills. It has been shown to be effective in improving symptoms of the disorder in children and adults. Researchers and clinicians recommend adding music therapy to other forms of therapy.
Music therapy for self-regulation
Self-regulation is the ability to understand and manage one’s emotions. In autistic people, this is often impeded due to a heightened sensitivity to sensory stimuli. Music therapy using the iso-principle helps with this: first the music corresponding to the current mood is played, then the transition to the desired state is made. Personal preference plays a key role, as the same music can be soothing for one person and stressful for another. Creating personalized playlists for different moods is an effective way to manage stress.
Music for the development of motor skills
Music helps to coordinate movements through the process of synchronizing movements with rhythm. Autistic people often have coordination problems, and music can be a useful tool for practicing. Examples of exercises:
- Coordination of one movement: marching, drumming, clapping.
- Coordination of several movements: marching with drumming, clapping and stomping.
- Different movements at different times: stomping and clapping to different rhythms.
Music to promote communication
Music promotes both verbal and non-verbal communication. Examples:
- Selecting an instrument or rhythm.
- Determining the speed of the performance (fast or slow).
- Using the communication buttons to participate in singing.
- Recording phrases to the buttons for sequential playback.
Music helps autistic people express themselves, improve coordination and manage emotions.
Music therapy techniques for children with autism
There are several examples of techniques used to address the needs of a patient with autism, including:
- Improvisation: the use of musical improvisation for a specific therapeutic purpose in an environment that facilitates response and interaction.
- Songwriting: a process through which the patient can communicate and explore inner thoughts, feelings, or problems. Songs can also be written as an overview of life.
- Singing: to vocalize words or sounds in musical tones. Songs can be used for memorization and as a way to control emotions and behavior.
- Using songs as a catalyst to discuss issues that are therapeutically relevant to the patient. The method involves listening to songs, analyzing the lyrics and their meaning.
- Educational/learning songs to introduce basic concepts and concepts: up/down, left/right, loud/soft, stop/go, colors, numbers, etc.
Conclusion
Music therapy plays a key role in supporting people with autism, helping to develop social and language skills, improve motor coordination and manage emotions. Techniques such as improvisation, songwriting, singing and analyzing lyrics promote self-expression and improve interaction with others. Music helps to manage sensory sensitivities and reduce stress, making it a valuable tool for improving the quality of life of individuals with autism. Incorporating music therapy into comprehensive treatment programs enhances their effectiveness and promotes social integration.
