Does your child or loved one have Autism?

 

​​​​​​​​​​​​Do they find it difficult to interact and communicate with others?

 

Does the person have speech and language delays?

 

Are there concerns around their behaviour?

 

If you answered 'Yes' to any of these questions, then Music Therapy can help.

A formal diagnosis can only be obtained from a paediatrician or psychologist but Music Therapy can help to address some of the underlying difficulties and provide strategies, regardless of whether the diagnosis has been made.

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Autism is a neurological impairment that appears at the first 3 years of a person's life. People with Autism present with a range of challenges in 3 main areas:​

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•    Social interaction​

•    Communication​

•    Presence of restricted and repetitive behaviours  ​

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Although children and adults with Autism can have a strong desire to communicate, their lack of expressive language usually prevents them from doing so. Sounds and gestures replace words in their communication process; this renders them misunderstood by others.

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Music Therapists use the medium of music to enhance communication and purposeful interactions. Music, being an enjoyable stimulus, is used in a planned way to affect positive outcomes, such as to assist communication, stimulate, support in times of transition and provide opportunities for choice, control and emotional expression.

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​The effectiveness of Music Therapy to improve the skills and capabilities of people with Autism is supported by a strong body of international research.

 

Notable benefits can be summarised in the following 5 areas:​​​​​​​​​​​

 

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Communication

 

• Promotes connection and communication (verbal and ​​non-verbal) through musical interaction

• Promotes eye contact

• Enhances vocalisation and speech (e.g. singing familiar songs with repetitive elements)

• Promotes breath and oromotor control through instrument playing

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Behaviour

 

• Enables emotional expression in a creative environment

• Promotes recognition of emotion in self and others

• Improves motivation to task

• Enhances confidence and self-esteem, focusing on what the client CAN do, through the development of their creativity (e.g. song writing, instrument playing, choice making)

• Reduces targeted repetitive behaviours (e.g. hand/finger flapping), by engaging the client in purposeful tasks

• Promotes relaxation, decreases agitation and helps promote positive behaviours

• Provides multi-sensory input in a controlled environment to assist with sensory integration difficulties​

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Social Interaction

 

• Offers the opportunity for engagement and for clients to feel supported and create friendships

• Promotes interactive behaviours (e.g. joint attention, eye contact, listening to others)

• Enhances social skills (e.g. as turn taking) and helps to decrease feelings of social withdrawal

• Facilitates bonding between the client and their family (e.g. parent-child) and provides a platform to improve family interactions and support

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Cognitive Skills skills

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• Helps the client develop new skills through their own creativity (e.g. play skills)

• Enhances learning, memory and language comprehension through imitation and repetition (e.g. use of familiar songs)

• Promotes attention/focus to task

• Enhances cognitive skills (e.g. cause and effect, conceptualising and symbolising)

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Physical Skills

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• ​Helps the clients develop their fine motor skills (e.g. through instrument play)

• Promotes movement and body awareness through movement to music.