Music Therapy

By: Gazzia Aleman, Ashlyn Cummings, Danielle Dopslauf &

Melissa Faz
What is Music Therapy?
In Music Therapy: An Introduction, Peters (2000) writes:

music therapy may be defined as a planned, goal-directed process of interaction and

intervention, based on assessment and evaluation of individual clients specific needs,
strengths, weaknesses, in which music or music-based experiences (e.g., singing, playing
musical instruments, moving or listening to music, creating or discussing songs and
music) are specifically prescribed to influence positive changes in an individual's
condition, skills, thoughts, feelings and behaviors (Peters, p. 2). (Accordino, 2007)
Purpose
Music therapy has been claimed to be of great benefit to
individuals with Autism. Therefore, we wanted to find merit for
this claim.
The questions we posed were...
How does Music Therapy affect individuals with Autism?
What specific aspects of the individual are affected through
Music Therapy?
Search Procedures
How articles were located:

EBSCO (ERIC)

Restricted our publication year from 1995 to present with no restrictions on types of studies

Keywords

music therapy and emotional behavioral disorder - 10 results.

music therapy and disability - 43 results.

music therapy and autism - 26 results.

music therapy and case studies - 12 results.

How we determined which articles to include:

Determined that we wanted to see the effects of music therapy on children with Autism

What information we pulled from each study:

Results
Results from Effects of vibroacoustic music on challenging behaviors in
individuals with autism and developmental disabilities

Lundqvist (2009)
Results
Results from the case study Use of Songs to Promote Independence in Morning
Greeting Routines for Young Children with Autism.

(Kern, 2007)
Results
Results from Emotional, motivational and interpersonal responsiveness of children
with autism improvisational music therapy

Kim (2009)
Results
Results from The Effects of Improvisational Music Therapy on Joint Attention Behaviors in Autistic Children: A
Randomized Controlled Study.

Kim (2008)
Summary/Implications
Music Therapy is EFFECTIVE!
Participants in these studies responded emotionally, behaviorally,
and socially in a positive way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBWMYkJgbK0
References
Accordino, R., Comer, R., & Heller, W. B. (2007). Searching for Music's Potential: A Critical Examination of Research on Music Therapy with
Individuals with Autism. Research In Autism Spectrum Disorders, 1(1), 101-115.

Kern, P., Wolery, M., & Aldridge, D. (2007). Data results for Philip. Diagram.Use of Songs to Promote Independence in Morning Greeting Routines for
Young Children with Austim. Retrieved April 27, 2016, from Eric EBSCO database.

Kern, P., Wolery, M., & Aldridge, D. (2007). Data results for Ben . Diagram.Use of Songs to Promote Independence in Morning Greeting Routines for
Young Children with Austim. Retrieved April 27, 2016, from Eric EBSCO database.

Kern, P., Wolery, M., & Aldridge, D. (2007). Data results for Student interactions with Ben. Diagram.Use of Songs to Promote Independence in
Morning Greeting Routines for Young Children with Austim. Retrieved April 27, 2016, from Eric EBSCO database.

Kim, J., Wigram, T., & Gold, C. (2009). Emotional, Motivational and Interpersonal Responsiveness of Children with Autism in Improvisational Music
Therapy. Autism: The International Journal Of Research And Practice, 13(4), 389-409.

Kim, J., Wigram, T., & Gold, C. (2008). The Effects of Improvisational Music Therapy on Joint Attention Behaviors in Autistic Children: A Randomized
Controlled Study. Journal Of Autism And Developmental Disorders, 38(9), 1758-1766.

Lundqvist, L., Andersson, G., & Viding, J. (2009). Effects of Vibroacoustic Music on Challenging Behaviors in Individuals with Autism and
Developmental Disabilities. Research In Autism Spectrum Disorders, 3(2), 390-400.

Silverman, M. J. (2008). Nonverbal Communication, Music Therapy, and Autism: A Review of Literature and Case Example. Journal Of Creativity In
Mental Health, 3(1), 3-19.

Vaiouli, P., Grimmet, K., & Ruich, L. J. (2015). "Bill Is Now Singing": Joint Engagement and the Emergence of Social Communication of Three Young
Children with Autism. Autism: The International Journal Of Research And Practice, 19(1), 73-83.