Music Therapy for Autistic Children

Several studies have proven, time and again, that music therapy may benefit individuals of all abilities and ages. The therapy has been used to support the development of cognitive, social and emotional to people in all races, nations and peoples. It also can help promote health by improving memory, improve communication skills and manage stress. The researchers also showed that children and adolescents, who has autism, can benefit a lot with music therapy. Music therapy for autistic children helps improve their social behavior, the better their communication efforts in terms of movement, verbalizations, vocabulary and vocalizations, reducing their anxiety, improve attention and focus them, and even improve body coordination and awareness. Some studies even show that adults and children with autism spectrum disorder or ASD respond well to music. This is why music is considered to be a potential therapeutic tool for treating autism.

Here is a way that can help children with autism:
• Music encourage social interaction- children, who suffer from autism, suggesting the involvement of a more social and emotional expressions during music therapy sessions, compared with a game session, without music. They also respond to requests from the therapist if there is music in the session. In addition, a trained and experienced therapist can use music to enhance social skills and improve social interaction of these children. Play different kinds of movement and music games, passing and sharing instruments, learn to listen, singing greeting songs and gathered around the main tools are a few ways that therapists can use to improve the interaction.
• Music helps improve communication - Nearly thirty percent of children with autism are non-verbal. Again, there are many children who can not follow verbal commands or understand the language of the body. Studies have proven that music improves sound mapping for action. This is done by connecting the motor and auditory parts of the brain. This helps improve the understanding of verbal commands. With the help of repetitive training and to partner with the action music, children's speaking skills can be improved.
• It helps improve a person's behavior - With several studies conducted over a span of ten months, has proven that music therapy sessions weekly increase the overall behavior of children with autism, especially when it comes to dealing with negligent behavior. In this particular study, children exposed to one hour of music therapy sessions, once a week, and their behavior tracked against a list of specific behaviors. The results showed significant improvements in behavior can be observed.

Of course, music therapy can be very useful and beneficial for children with autism.