Research demonstrates connections among children’s music actions, their engagement abilities, and... more Research demonstrates connections among children’s music actions, their engagement abilities, and their language development. Although the link between music and the engagement abilities of young children with autism is well established, there is not enough evidence on the effectiveness of music strategies and music therapy interventions to promote language development of young children with autism. The purpose of this review is to examine and analyze current literature on the systematic use of music and music therapy interventions as effective strategies for the development of language and preverbal and verbal communication abilities in young children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Findings align with previous reviews on the positive effects of music as an age-appropriate, communicative medium. Also, the review pinpoints to the collaboration of music therapists and speech and language pathologists for the design and implementation of interventions that embed music and target language development of young children with autism.
Recently emerging intervention studies for toddlers with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) were rev... more Recently emerging intervention studies for toddlers with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) were reviewed through a systematic assessment of intervention outcomes, research rigor, and intervention features. The review includes published peer-reviewed experimental studies of toddlers with high risk for or diagnosis of ASD in which the majority of interventions occurred before age 36 months. Of 20 identified research studies, 6 were group comparison studies, all of which showed small to large magnitudes of effect when a uniform metric was applied. Fourteen were single-case design (SCD) studies, all of which reported effects on a variety of outcomes. When grouped by area of intervention focus (communication, general development, family well-being, imitation, joint attention, and play), commonly identified needs within focus areas were for replication, common measures, and authentic practices. A majority of studies in most focus areas showed strong to acceptable levels of research rigor, though this is an area of ongoing need.
Young children with autism spectrum disorder meet significant challenges in joint attention skill... more Young children with autism spectrum disorder meet significant challenges in joint attention skills and in social communication. A child-centered, improvisational, music therapy intervention model was implemented to promote engagement in three young children with autism in a kindergarten classroom. A multiple baseline design compared the children's performance through three phases of intervention: focus on faces, response to joint attention, and initiation of joint attention. A complimentary qualitative analysis of teacher and parent experiences allowed for an in-depth understanding of the role of social environment in supporting emerging social communication skills among three children. As all children showed improvement in joint attention and actions of social engagement, this study bears evidence on the potential of music therapy as a promising intervention for promoting social skills of young children with autism spectrum disorder.
Research demonstrates connections among children’s music actions, their engagement abilities, and... more Research demonstrates connections among children’s music actions, their engagement abilities, and their language development. Although the link between music and the engagement abilities of young children with autism is well established, there is not enough evidence on the effectiveness of music strategies and music therapy interventions to promote language development of young children with autism. The purpose of this review is to examine and analyze current literature on the systematic use of music and music therapy interventions as effective strategies for the development of language and preverbal and verbal communication abilities in young children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Findings align with previous reviews on the positive effects of music as an age-appropriate, communicative medium. Also, the review pinpoints to the collaboration of music therapists and speech and language pathologists for the design and implementation of interventions that embed music and target language development of young children with autism.
Recently emerging intervention studies for toddlers with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) were rev... more Recently emerging intervention studies for toddlers with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) were reviewed through a systematic assessment of intervention outcomes, research rigor, and intervention features. The review includes published peer-reviewed experimental studies of toddlers with high risk for or diagnosis of ASD in which the majority of interventions occurred before age 36 months. Of 20 identified research studies, 6 were group comparison studies, all of which showed small to large magnitudes of effect when a uniform metric was applied. Fourteen were single-case design (SCD) studies, all of which reported effects on a variety of outcomes. When grouped by area of intervention focus (communication, general development, family well-being, imitation, joint attention, and play), commonly identified needs within focus areas were for replication, common measures, and authentic practices. A majority of studies in most focus areas showed strong to acceptable levels of research rigor, though this is an area of ongoing need.
Young children with autism spectrum disorder meet significant challenges in joint attention skill... more Young children with autism spectrum disorder meet significant challenges in joint attention skills and in social communication. A child-centered, improvisational, music therapy intervention model was implemented to promote engagement in three young children with autism in a kindergarten classroom. A multiple baseline design compared the children's performance through three phases of intervention: focus on faces, response to joint attention, and initiation of joint attention. A complimentary qualitative analysis of teacher and parent experiences allowed for an in-depth understanding of the role of social environment in supporting emerging social communication skills among three children. As all children showed improvement in joint attention and actions of social engagement, this study bears evidence on the potential of music therapy as a promising intervention for promoting social skills of young children with autism spectrum disorder.
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