Introduction
Music therapy uses live music making and composition techniques to encourage children, adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorders to engage in spontaneous and creative musical activities.
The therapist and client use a variety of percussion or tuned instruments, or voice, to develop shared and interactive musical activities.
The individual with autism does not need musical skills to benefit from music therapy but the music therapist does need a high level of musical and therapeutic skill.
Supporters of music therapy believe that it can be used to develop social engagement, joint attention, communication abilities, while also addressing emotional needs and quality of life.
Aims
According to the National Autistic Society
‘Music therapy aims to encourage increased self-awareness/self-other awareness, leading to more overt social interactions. The therapy stimulates and develops the communicative use of voice and pre-verbal dialogue with another, establishing meaning and relationship to underpin language development. The client may also benefit from increased tolerance of sound, tolerance of and capacity for two-way communication, the opportunity to exercise joint attention, and other emotional needs met in the therapeutic process.’ (National Autistic Society, 2005)
Claims
There have been a number of claims for the use of music therapy with individuals with autism. For example, Wigram, Gold and Oldfield have claimed the following benefits for music therapy.
In the area of Social development:
- Motivated interaction
- Shared and understood experiences
- Relationship building skills
- Tolerance of change
- Entrained responses
- Flexibility
In the area of Emotional needs:
- Developed and Increased sense of self
- Empathic synchronicity – shared emotions
- Containment of emotional expression
- Emergence of insight and self-esteem
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