Music Therapy and Autism
by • April 17, 2015 • Autism • 0 Comments
At the beginning of the month, Kayla shared information about autism and music therapy. This week, I want to go a little deeper into how music therapy can help to support those with autism.
Why Music Therapy?
Music is processed in every area of your brain. This makes it a perfect tool for learning functional skills. Take an example from everyday life. When you learned the ABC’s, chances are you learned them from a song. You might even still use the song today when recalling the letter order. This is an idea behind music therapy.
Here are just a few examples of how music can be used to reach functional goals.
|
Functional Outcome |
Musical Experience |
| Expressive Communication | Using song writing experiences to build these communication skills |
| Receptive Communication | Singing a song about facial expressions and using the music to help differentiate between what each expression means |
| Social Skills | Participating in a rock band or choir where everyone works together for the end result |
| Academic Skills | Playing simple instruments to learn a variety of tasks, such as colors, numbers, letters, or reading from left to right |
Music therapy can be used directly, in a one-on-one or group session with a therapist and also indirectly, through consultative services. These indirect services are helpful for activities of daily living and transitions. In these times, a song can be used to help learn what to do or how to cope with these situations. A music therapist can help you to identify these areas of need and write a song to be used.
Do you have any questions on music therapy and autism spectrum disorders? Would you like more information about how to get these services for you or your child? Please contact us here at Noteable Progressions! We would love to talk with you and answer your questions.
