MUSIC THERAPY

Searching For Music's Potential: A Critical Examination Of Research On Music Therapy With Individuals With Autism

Critical Review



Searching For Music's Potential: A Critical Examination Of Research On Music Therapy With Individuals With Autism

Critical Review

Introduction

The report is based on the critical review of the article titled as “Searching for Music's Potential: A Critical Examination of Research on Music Therapy with Individuals with Autism”. The academic article is written collectively by Accordino, Robert; Comer, Ronald; Heller, Wendy B. The authors reviewed the literature on music therapy for people with autism, because of the frequent use of music therapy for people with autism and the latest research on the musical abilities of this population. For this narrative review articles were searched from relevant databases, reference lists of articles and book chapters to provide thorough critique of past studies that have been classified according to the symptomology of therapy designed to treat (social, communicative, behavioral). Music therapists and researchers carried out mainly case studies and a surprisingly limited amount of empirical research. Although these reports provide limited empirical support for the therapy with this population, they used a wide range of creative methods and different kinds of music therapy are worthy of discussion. As necessary to future empirical research in these cases.

Summary

The paper begins with pointing out some facts on this issue. The authors believe that many parents of autistic children report the effective use of music therapy (MT) with their children. Special schools for children with autism often usictherapists sessions as part of the normal curriculum. In apostal review studyof use and recommendations MT for children with autism in Germany, researchers found that 56% of child psychiatrists and 14,5% of pediatricians recommended tons for the previous autism termtreatmentof. In addition, 25.1% of pediatricians is tons of useful for those with autism. These figures are especially impressive given the lack of empirical research support for MT.

The relatively high adoption of such a therapy with this population has coincided with several empirical studies showing that people with autism may exhibit musicianship. Although it was initially thought that this superiority may reflect the contribution of the asubset people with the skills learned, subsequent studies have shown an unusually good pitch perception, even in musically naive people with autism. Indeed, some believe that musical ability prior termafundamental component of autism, and that amazing musical talent can be found in these children quite often (Accordino, 2007, online).

The authors discuss recent contributions to the field, noting that Wimpory, Chadwick, and Nash (1995) used music therapy to increase interaction between social participation, mutual interaction, and the eyes of one 3-year-old child and her mother. She participated in a 20-minute session of music therapy interaction of two times a week in her home for 7 months. To help the child to anticipate the actions of its mother, the mother's movements were synchronized with the therapist playing the harp. Mother also mimicked the action of the child during the sessions. The researchers monitored the child's development of social skills ...