Posted: April 29th, 2018

Music Therapy and Expressive Language Skills in Children with Autism

Music Therapy and Expressive Language Skills in Children with Autism

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition that affects how people communicate and interact with others. One of the common challenges for children with ASD is the development of expressive language skills, which are the ability to use words and sentences to convey meaning and intentions. Expressive language skills are essential for social, academic, and emotional development, as well as for self-advocacy and independence.

Some children with ASD have limited verbal abilities, meaning they can only produce a few words or sounds, or they rely on gestures or alternative communication methods. Others may have echolalia, which is the repetition of words or phrases that they hear from others, without understanding or using them appropriately. Echolalia can be a way of learning language, but it can also interfere with meaningful communication and social interactions.

Music therapy is a form of intervention that uses music and musical elements to address various goals and needs of individuals with ASD. Music therapy can involve listening to music, singing, playing instruments, improvising, composing, or moving to music. Music therapy can have positive effects on various aspects of ASD, such as social skills, attention, motivation, emotion regulation, and sensory processing.

One of the potential benefits of music therapy is the enhancement of expressive language skills in children with ASD. Music therapy can provide a motivating and engaging context for children to practice and develop their verbal abilities. Music therapy can also stimulate different areas of the brain that are involved in language processing and production. Music therapy can also facilitate the development of nonverbal communication skills, such as eye contact, facial expressions, and gestures, which are important for conveying meaning and emotions.

There is evidence from several studies that music therapy can increase expressive language skills in children with ASD who have limited verbal abilities or echolalia. For example, a study by Lim (2010) found that music therapy improved the frequency and variety of vocalizations in children with ASD who had minimal speech. Another study by Kim et al. (2008) found that music therapy increased the use of appropriate words and phrases in children with ASD who had echolalia. A meta-analysis by Geretsegger et al. (2014) concluded that music therapy had a moderate effect on improving communication skills in children with ASD.

However, there are also some limitations and challenges in the research on music therapy and expressive language skills in children with ASD. For instance, there is a lack of standardized and validated outcome measures for assessing expressive language skills in this population. There is also a need for more rigorous and long-term studies that control for confounding factors and examine the generalization and maintenance of the effects of music therapy. Furthermore, there is a need for more individualized and tailored approaches that consider the preferences, strengths, and needs of each child with ASD.

In conclusion, music therapy is a promising intervention that can enhance expressive language skills in children with ASD who have limited verbal abilities or echolalia. Music therapy can provide a fun and stimulating environment for children to express themselves verbally and nonverbally. Music therapy can also activate and integrate different brain regions that are involved in language processing and production. However, more research is needed to establish the efficacy and effectiveness of music therapy for improving expressive language skills in children with ASD.

References

Geretsegger M., Elefant C., Mössler K.A., Gold C. (2014). Music therapy for people with autism spectrum disorder. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2014(6): CD004381.

Kim J., Wigram T., Gold C. (2008). The effects of improvisational music therapy on joint attention behaviors in write my essay autistic children: A randomized controlled study. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 38(9): 1758–1766.

Lim H.A. (2010). Effect of “developmental speech and language training through music” on speech production in children with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Music Therapy 47(1): 2–26.

Check Price Discount

Study Notes & Homework Samples: Case Studies for Homework Assignments »Assignment Help Experts