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May 2, 2023 in Behavior Therapy

Music Therapy for Autistic Children and Developmental Delay

Generally, it is accepted that music can relieve mental distress and tension. Individuals opt for slow music when they are in a low mood and sad and fast music when they are lively and happy. The point is that music has a positive effect on our cognitive ability and mood. According to scientific studies, music can also assist children with autism disorder to enhance their communication skills. Music therapy utilizes interactive musical undertakings to advance communications and social skills for autistic children. Here is an exclusive look at music therapy for autistic children and developmental delay.

Understanding autism

This refers to an extremely intricate disorder that influences a child’s verbal, interactive, and intellectual abilities. The condition is usually noticed within the first three years of a child and affects how they converse with other individuals. Even though there are resemblances amongst diverse autism cases, it is hard to specify a definite basis or symptoms. According to statistics, about one in every sixty children has a particular autism type. Although the condition cannot be cured, early diagnosis provides a better chance for treatment. The reason why music has become an essential tool as an autism remedy is a fact that it can arouse both brain hemispheres other than one.

Why is music therapy a perfect choice?

Music therapy might assist children with autism to enhance their social skills, communication, behavior, sensory issues, self-reliance, motor/perceptual skills, and cognitive abilities. Music therapists develop music skills that bond with a specific individual, creating individual connections and credence. For autistic children, intermingling with the rest might be challenging. Nonetheless, by providing musical instruments to their rehabilitation, the children can link with the music first and then start socializing with others involved in the same music. According to the studied outcomes, some of the music therapy benefits to kids with autism include:

  • Increased concentration on a task
  • Improved appropriate social behavior
  • Increased social skills and communication
  • Better verbalization, vocalization, gesture and vocabulary comprehension
  • Decreased anxiety
  • Enhanced body coordination and awareness
  • Enhanced self-care skills

Children with autism are frequently fascinated and receptive to musical therapy. The fact that music is engaging and motivating might be utilized to reinforce the anticipated reactions. It can also assist children with sensory repulsions to particular resonances to handle personal differences in auditory processing or sound sensitivities. Music therapy that is family-centered can help in building more solid child-parent ties.

What is the role of a music therapist?

Music therapists assess the needs and strengths of every autistic person. They then come up with a personalized treatment plan with objectives and goals aimed at providing the appropriate treatment. Using a diversity of techniques and music, including; playing instruments, singing, songwriting, improvising, and listening to music, music therapists can promote social and communication skills in autistic kids like sharing attention, creating eye contact, and even alternating tasks. The psychotherapists can also utilize musical undertakings to train different skills. Dancing sections might also help in stimulation the sensory systems and improve fine motor skills. They can work both in-person and in small groups. The ideal music therapist should create approaches applicable to both school and home-based.

Choosing a music therapist

After determining your child’s therapy goals, it is essential to find a professional music therapist who is dedicated to offering a positive experience for your autistic child. The ideal music therapist must have a minimum of a music therapy degree from an American Music Therapy Association sanctioned platform, finish at least 1,200 hours of medical training, and get certified from the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT) to attain qualifications. They must also be board-certified by the Music Therapist-Board Certified (MTBC). Music therapists have private practices, works for agencies, while others work in school settings.

Bottom Line

Music therapy is an effective method of treating developmental and communication problems for autistic children. This is a non-pharmacological type of intervention that is suitable for children of all ages. Scientific studies are still being carried out to establish the effects of music therapy on autism symptoms. If you have an autistic child that already seems to respond to and enjoy music, it might be best to look into music therapy providers. Our home care agency offers effective music therapy for children with autism to ensure they improve their social and behavioral skills.




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