IN A WORD

Modified Music Therapy As an Effective Treatment for

Autism Spectrum Disorder

WHAT IS ASD?

BUT SERIOUSLY…WHAT IS IT?

Autism Spectrum Disorder – • a group of developmental disabilities that can cause

significant social, communicative and behavioral challenges.

• Three Primary Types – • Autistic Disorder• Asperger Syndrome• Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise

Specified

CHARACTERISTICS

Inability to maintain eye contact, an aversion to physical contact

with others, difficulty understanding and responding to social

queues, difficulty verbally communicating effectively, hindrances

to motor skills, extreme sensitivities to sounds or textures, and a

slew of seemingly unrelated physical impairments

These behaviors typically associated with developmental

disabilities such as autism are commonly self-injurious and

destructive.

Lundqvist, Lars-Olov. "Effects Of Vibroacoustic Music On Challenging Behaviors In Individuals With Autism And Developmental Disabilities." Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders 3.2 (2009): 390-400. ScienceDirect. Web. 7 Mar. 2012.

TREATMENT OPTIONS

No cure.

Early intervention

But there is a new hope…

MUSIC THERAPY(SPECIFICALLY…MODIFIED MUSIC

INTERVENTION THERAPY)

Music is played to accompany the current activity

and to reflect the mood and timing of the subject

(Wimpory 543)

For the layman….• Drumming• Singing• But most importantly…• Customized Accompaniment

THIS ACTUALLY WORKS?

Short answer: Yes.

Long answer: Yeeeeeeeees.

Let’s take a look at some pretty conclusive

evidence…

L A R S - O L OV LU N D Q V I S T“ E F F E C T S O F V I B R O A C O U S T I C M U S I C O N

C H A L L E N G I N G B E H A V I O R S I N I N D I V I D U A L S W I T H A U T I S M A N D D E V E L O P M E N T A L

D I S A B I L I T I E S . ”

Studied the effects of music therapy on aggressive

and destructive individuals with autism.

The music therapy reduced the unwanted behavior

in every individual involved in the study (which

consisted of 20 people.)

However, the extent was dependent on the original

diagnosis of the individual.

TRACY JO ORR“ T H E I M PA C T O F R H Y T H M I C

E N T E R TA I N M E N T O N A P E R S O N W I T H A U T I S M ”

Subject: 11-year-old girl with autism who engaged

in head jerking and screaming

Results: Music therapy was effective in reducing

the destructive behavior.

To be fair…

The effectiveness waned (but was still measurably

present) when the girl was under more duress.

DAWN WIMPORY“ B R I E F R E P O R T : M U S I C A L I N T E R A C T I O N T H E R A P Y

F O R C H I L D R E N W I T H A U T I S M : A N E V A L U A T I V E C A S E S T U D Y W I T H T W O -Y E A R F O L L O W - U P ”

Subject: 3-year-old girl, almost totally

noncommunicative, severe autism, from a family

with many siblings and NO history of autism

Results: developed social communication and

playing skills.

CHIANG EE FONG“ M U S I C E D U C AT I O N F O R C H I L D R E N W I T H

A U T I S M I N M A L AY S I A”

Subjects: Malaysian children with autism.

Method: Encourage and teach the children to play

with instruments as well as using music intervention

therapy.

Conclusion: There is a strong link between musical

skills and communicative skills, and that music

therapy provided beneficial results as the skills

sharpened.

THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY

The Good: Music therapy is generally agreed upon by researchers and

clinicians to benefit people with autism (as well as those without) (Accordino

112).

The Bad: A shockingly large number of researchers agree that since the sample

sizes for many of these experiments has been so small, further research with

more clearly defined controls must be done before any concise conclusions can

be made about the efficacy of such treatment (Dempsey 107).

The Ugly: Throughout the wide range of studies, researchers have come to the

conclusion that until more case studies have been done on the effectiveness of

modified music intervention therapy, the proposal that it is beneficial cannot be

“proven” (Wigram 538).

SO WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO?

Increase funding for research and application.

Increase awareness as a means of increasing

testing.

Standardize the testing for ASD not just locally but

GLOBALLY.

Actually apply the music therapy.

Easier said than done?

THE PROPOSALS

Funding – Re-distribute funds given from the NIH and CDC

to less-proven methods of treatment for other diseases.

Increasing Awareness – Get involved locally.

Standardize Testing – Give your financial and vocal support

to groups like Autism Speaks, which aims to foster

international cooperation for research and treatment of ASD.

Application – Through awareness, we can get more

individuals with ASD into treatment.

LET ME REITERATE

Get involved locally (look at your sheets!)

INTERESTING SIDE NOTE

More jobs for musicians!

CONCLUSION

Modified Music Therapy WORKS…

But we need to continue to support research of it’s

application on a larger scale.

We need to raise awareness not just about ASD,

but ASD treatments like Modified Music Therapy.

Cooperate internationally.

WORKS CITED

Accordino, Robert. “Searching For Music's Potential: A Critical Examination Of Research On Music Therapy With Individuals With Autism.” Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders 1.1 (2007):

101-115. ScienceDirect. Web. 7 Mar. 2012.

Autism Speaks. Autism Speaks Inc.. Web. 27 Nov 2012. <www.autismspeaks.org>.

"Data & Statistics." Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 2012. Web. 27 Nov 2012. <http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html>.

Dempsey, I. “A Review Of Educational Approaches For Individuals With Autism”. International Journal Of Disability, Development & Education. (2001): 103-116. Psychology and Behavioral

Sciences Collection. Web. 6 Mar 2009.

Fong, Chaing Ee. "Music Education For Children With Autism In Malaysia." Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 9 (2010): 70-75. ScienceDirect. Web. 7 Mar 2012.

Lundqvist, Lars-Olov. "Effects Of Vibroacoustic Music On Challenging Behaviors In Individuals With Autism And Developmental Disabilities." Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders 3.2 (2009):

390-400. ScienceDirect. Web. 7 Mar. 2012.

Orr, T. “The Impact Of Rhythmic Entertainment On A Person With Autism”. Focus On Autism & Other Developmental. (1998):163. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection. Web. 6 Mar. 2012

Sausser, Shannon. "A Model For Music Therapy With Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders." The Arts in Psychotherapy 33.1 (2006): 1-10. ScienceDirect. Web. 7 Mar 2012.

Wigram, T. “Music Therapy In The Assessment And Treatment Of Autistic Spectrum Disorder: Clinical Application And Research Evidence.” Child: Care, Health & Development. (2006): 535-542.

Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection. Web. 6 Mar. 2012.

Wimpory, D. “Brief Report: Musical Interaction Therapy For Children With Autism: An Evaluative Case Study With Two-Year Follow-Up”. Journal Of Autism & Developmental Disorders. (1995):

541-552. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection. Web. 6 Mar. 2012.