Music Therapy with Children on the Autism Spectrum

Music Therapy with Children on the

Autism Spectrum

Natasha Yearwood, MT-BC

Music Therapy- The use of music to therapeutically address functioning areas:

• Physical• Psychological• Cognitive• Behavioral• Social

What makes MT a useful mode of treatment for a child with Autism?

• The Brains of children with Autism are essentially “wired differently,” which often results in children who have difficulty processing the world around them at the same speed and clarity as other children their age.

• The inherent order of music maintains structure and thus, predictability, which is comforting to the child with Autism.

• Making music (or even listening to music) draws the brain’s focus by stimulating all senses. It can also stimulate cognitive functioning and assist with remediation of speech skills as music is processed on both hemispheres of brain.

• Music is also a non-threatening and powerful motivator that can encourage socialization, self-expression, attention, communication, and motor development.

Music Therapists Work…

IN• Schools• Hospitals• Treatment

Facilities and Crisis

Centers

• Nursing Homes• Private Practice

and beyond…

WITH• Students with Special

Needs• Patients and their Families• Juvenile Delinquency,

Substance Abuse, other Emotional/Behavioral Disorders.

• The Elderly• Adults with Disabilities,

Infants, Toddlers, Loss and Bereavement…

A Board Certified Music Therapist:

• Has completed his/her bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy at an accredited University.

• Has gone through an internship of 1040 hours under supervision of a current MT-BC.

• Has passed the national exam provided by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT) to achieve “MT-BC” status.

• Certified MTs are required to accrue ongoing training in the areas of Music Therapy in order to maintain their MT-BC standing.

Making Music Therapy FitYOU’VE GOT OPTIONS!

• For school settings, Music Therapy is a Related Service under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). It CAN be placed on a student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

• Music Therapists can also be either privately contracted or hired as a facility employee. Insurance coverage for Music Therapy in private settings is available from a growing number of providers.

WHAT WILL A MUSIC THERAPIST DO?

• Schedule an informal pre-assessment visit, if needed.

• Observe Client behaviors with/without music.

• Perform an assessment.

• Determine level of service needed for the client:• Direct - more than ½ tested objectives are assisted with music.• Consult - less than ½ tested objectives are assisted with music.

Reaching a Child on the Autism Spectrum through Music

• Functional Academics (cognitive)

• Communication• Gross Motor• Fine Motor• Behavioral

Functional Academics

ID Items

Numbers

Shapes Colors

Letters

Transitions

Structure Songs

Functional Academics

Communication and Behavioral Needs

• Choice songs• Transition songs• Feelings songs• Echo Songs• Songs with Repetitive

Words or Phrases• Improvisation• Music Directions for Tasks• Music for Relaxation• Music as a Reward• Music to Focus Attention

Motor Skills

• Music with strong downbeat for movement

• Music with directions in lyrics- songs asking to walk, march, skip with tempo to match movement

• Moving arms/legs to touch or grasp instruments,

• Using music with props- parachutes, balls, scarves, elastic bands

• Music assisted gait - walking to music at desired tempo

Resources• West Music- www.westmusic.com or 1-800-397- 9378. Providers of a variety of instruments and other music materials. They have an MT-BC and education consultants on staff to assist you.

•American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) Fact Sheet on Music Therapy and Autism- www.musictherapy.org/factsheets/MT%20Autism%202006.pdf

References• American Music Therapy Association www.musictherapy.org or 301-589-5175

• Baltimore County Public Schools Music Therapy Department www.bcps.org

“Music provides access where no medication can: to speech, to movement, to life. For some,

Music is not a luxury, but a necessity.”

~Oliver Sacks, Neurologist and Author of Musicophilia~

Thank You!