Using music therapy for children with autism is one of the methods that are highly appreciated for its effectiveness and safety. Young children can improve well in many aspects, from emotions and feelings to behavior and cognition.
Music brings many benefits to the treatment and improvement of children with autism.
What is music therapy?
“Music therapy is the use of musical components such as sounds, rhythms, melodies, rhythms, and harmonies by a qualified therapist with one or a group of people.” World Federation of Music Therapy.
The process of using music therapy for children with autism often aims for specific purposes such as:
- Develop body awareness.
- Help young children improve their ability to communicate verbally, verbally and non-verbally.
- Support the development and enhancement of self-concept.
- Increase and prolong attention span in autistic children.
Depending on different treatment goals, specialists will apply different special techniques. Usually, for young children who want to improve speech through music therapy, techniques such as dancing, vocal singing, listening to repetitive songs, manipulation on musical instruments,…
Along with specific goals, when applying music therapy for children with autism, experts will use each level in turn based on 4 typical development areas of young children, which are emotions, language and cognitive and motor development. Recently, music therapy is one of the most effective intervention methods for children with disabilities in general and children with autism in particular.
Why apply music therapy for children with autism?
As shared above, using music therapy for children with autism can help children improve skills in many different areas, such as social skills, communication, cognitive problems. , behavior, senses, movement, perceptual skills, assertiveness, independence, self-determination, choice. In many scientific studies, experts and therapists have found that musical experiences are suitable for most children with autism, creating personal connections and helping to strengthen and build trust. for them.
Experts have found that children with autism often have a special interest and good response to music. Also, the melodies, sounds, and language in music will attract and motivate young children. Music is sometimes used as a natural reinforcer of desired responses in autistic children.
Using music therapy for children with autism can help children improve skills in many different areas
At the same time, music is also one of the effective therapies for children with autism who are obsessed or do not like certain sounds. Children will cope better with sound sensitivities or individual differences in auditory reception and processing. If it is found that autistic children have special attention and interest in music, parents should also consider applying this therapy to help improve their child’s autism.
Benefits of music therapy for children with autism
Unlike music training or teaching, music therapy applied to children with autism does not require the child to have good musical ability, not need to be good at singing, playing the piano well, fluent in language. Or have good communication skills. On the contrary, when applying music therapy, young children will learn and improve their language, help them increase their confidence, integrate better with the community and gradually adapt to daily life. .
Some outstanding benefits are always mentioned when applying music therapy for children with autism such as:
1. Improve learning disorders
Most children with autism show signs of delay in speech and some difficulties in using language and speech. To improve this symptom well, experts often give priority to applying music therapy to help young children better balance.
According to the sharing, when the sound is emitted, it will be transmitted to the auditory nerve, then the central nervous system will receive and this information will be processed in the brain. Besides, part of the information will also be transmitted directly to the motor nerves inside the spinal cord, helping to stimulate the movement of the body. This is also the reason why music can not only help children with autism improve their speech, but also improve language skills and cognitive balance effectively.
Herdecke Community Hospital – Germany has carried out a study in a row for 2 years, published results show that music therapy has the ability to create good conditions for speech development in young children, helping to stimulate speech. Like to produce speech, language, support to increase concentration, improve memory, improve learning capacity.
2. Increase interaction and emotional expression
A rather surprising thing that many people don’t know is that the mechanism that produces speech is the same as when you hear and sing along with music. Melodies, music, and lyrics are combined to create sounds that follow the beat of a song. Besides helping to improve communication skills in children, music therapy also has a good effect on the interaction of individuals, helping autistic children know how to express their own emotions.
3. Reduce anxiety
In 2006, a scientific study conducted at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse (USA) shared that music therapy has the ability to change the ritual and often repetitive behaviors of children. autism. At the same time, music is also an effective method to help children reduce anxiety, anger, irritability and hyperactivity. Music also helps children improve their memory, train their senses, perception and increase movement.
4. Improve behavior
In addition to the above benefits, music therapy also has the ability to help children with autism improve their ability to concentrate and increase attention. In a scientific study conducted in 2012, researchers studied 41 children with autism and followed them for 10 months. The results found that the children who participated in music therapy sessions lasting 1 hour per week were less likely to have agitated, aggressive, violent, hyperactive, noisy behaviors.
5. Develop communication skills
According to experts, children diagnosed with autism, pervasive developmental disorders or Asperger’s will face certain difficulties in the process of social communication. Children do not seem to know how to behave in communication situations, cannot understand and clearly understand the implications of each other’s words or gestures, do not follow written communication rules.
In 1973, the American Music Therapy Association was founded with the goal of applying music therapy in the improvement and treatment of individuals with autism. Most of the research done at this time shows that both children and adults with autism respond well to music therapy.
Music can help people with:
- Reduce agitation and instability and increase expected behaviors.
- Improve communication skills, develop good social skills.
- Create fun, positive feelings.
- Reduce anxiety, insecurity, mental and emotional stability.
In many scientific studies, it has been found that music has the ability to break down the wall that prevents children from affecting the subconscious, so when children are exposed to music, they can increase their ability to communicate with the world. outside world. Unlike using words, music can convey emotions through nuances, rhythms, melodies, and sounds. When children listen, sing and move to music, they can fully understand and integrate well into the outside world, so language and communication are improved.
Using music therapy for children with autism will contribute to helping children improve and enhance skills, bringing many benefits to the treatment process. However, parents also need to see a specialist for specific advice and guidance so that they can consider choosing appropriate therapy and apply effective techniques for each case of young children.
