AUTISM AND MUSIC THERAPY
AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABAILITIES
For people on the autism spectrum and those with developmental disabilities such as Asperger's Syndrome, music provides a nonverbal, non-threatening way of relating to others. The natural structure and consistency of music makes it extremely effective in the development and remediation of speech. Many children with developmental disabilities are able to sing when they may not speak, and they may also possess unusual sensitivities to music, such as perfect pitch.
A music therapist may work on speech through a variety of vocal exercises and repeated phrases. Music therapy activities may consist of developing emotional expression through music, and singing to increase speech development or therapeutic instrument instruction. Music is a language that most everyone can speak; it provides enjoyment, instant gratification, and a sense of achievement.
What can music target in Autism?
• Music can help stimulate cortical areas to improve
cognition and comprehension by applying musical
games, songs, playing instruments, creating instruments
with household items that can target sensory
integration
• Autism can adopt alternate coping mechanisms
through sustained, sedative, stimulative, or anxiolytic
music to address various effects of adverse autonomic
responses
• Auditory Rhythmicity—motor control strategies for
spatial-temporal organization of complex sequential
movements in music performance and in music therapy
procedures; musical example: dancing—marching
band music, instrument playing
• Musical improvisation to promote appropriate social
interaction and channel expression and negative impulses
• Social cues through rhythm and self image play therapy
• Speech and language development through singing
games: musical mimicking and speech singing
• Singing instructions for daily tasks to give organization
in following and comprehending verbal directions
• poor fine/gross motor skills improve skills with scarf
dancing
• Nordoff-Robbins approach to address self-absorption,
withdrawal, maladaptive behavior
• Increase in attending behavior (ROM keyboard)
The Neurological Impact of Music on Autism
Alternative instruments used with Autism:
• ROM keyboard (with blinking keys or lights indicating
which keys to depress)
• ocean drum
• homemade shaker using 2-liter pop bottle with
spaghetti inside
• homemade popping board wrapped in aluminum foil
and covered with large rubber bands
• STIMULATION BOX: Use a large box from oven or
refrigerator. Decorate it on the outside with bright
colors. Cut a hole in the top and suspend jingle bells,
spoons, penlights, etc. down into the box. Place
different types of textures in the box on the sides and
tops using material samples (velvet, fur, corduroy,
dotted swiss, etc.).
Information taken from:
Scientific American, Broken Mirrors; A Theory
of Autism, Vilayanur S. Ramachandran, and Lindsay
M. Oberman
Biomedical Foundations of Music as Therapy--
Dr. Dale Taylor--3rd Edition-EC Printing, Eau
Claire, WI, 1997
UWEC Music Therapy Website: Autism Goals
and Methodologies
http://people.uwec.edu/rasarla/research/autism/ |
