Music and Autism

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Music and Autism: Here are Amazing Ways Music

Helps
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Inside: Music and autism have shown to be a powerful way that children with autism can connect, communicate and bond with family
members and others. Here are some amazing ways to make it happen.
Music and Autism
https://goodparentingbrighterchildren.com/music-and-autism/ 1/15
Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability with a growth rate of 10-17% annually.
More than likely, you are aware of autism and what it is. But did you know that it’s the fastest-growing
developmental disability with an astounding 1,148% growth rate over the last 20 years and a 10-17% annual
growth rate?
It’s a concern with no medical cure.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a disorder characterized by
abnormalities in social interactions

speech and communication difficulties
sensory perception
restrictive or repetitive behaviors
More children are diagnosed with autism each year than juvenile diabetes, cancer, and AIDS combined. In 1984,
four in every ten thousand children were diagnosed with autism. Today, one in every 88 births results in an autistic
child, with boys being 4x more likely than girls to have autism.
This breaks down to one in every 54 boys with the disorder.
The American Psychiatric Association lists 5 subtypes of ASD:
1. Autistic disorder
2. Rett syndrome
3. Childhood disintegrative disorder

4. Pervasive developmental disorder (PDD)
5. Asperger syndrome (although it has now been determined that Asperger’s syndrome be removed as one of
the autistic subtypes)
Music and Autism: How Music Helps Autistic Children
Music is one area of stimulus that nearly ALL autistic children positively respond to, like, and enjoy.
Autism is referred to as a “spectrum” disorder because each individual on the spectrum can exhibit a range of
different behaviors, and no one method of approach works for all autistic children.
However, music is one area of stimulus that almost all autistic children positively respond to, like and enjoy. In fact,
they respond more positively to music than any other auditory stimulus, and many autistic children demonstrate
better music skills than cognitive skills!
Music therapist and researcher, Michael Thaut says, Children on the autistic spectrum often have a remarkable
capability and responsiveness to music compared to most other areas of their behavior, as well as in comparison
with typical children.
As a result, music therapy, listening to music, and music involvement for autistic children is fast becoming a
popular treatment for helping with their self-awareness, socialization and communication skills.
Music Therapy and Autism: 5 Therapies that Help
Five different types of music therapies are used to engage autistic children with Active Music Therapy being the favorite.
Music therapy has been around since the end of World War II. It was first used to help veteran patients suffering
from war trauma. Over the years, various music therapies have emerged to help autistic children with
communication skills, social skills, behaviors, and cognition. There are five main types:
#1: Receptive Music Therapy
This involves listening to live or recorded music.
#2: Compositional Music Therapy
With compositional therapy the patient creates music
#3: Improvisational Music Therapy
Therapy where the therapist guides the patient to create music
#4: Recreative Music Therapy
The patient learns to play a musical instrument and perform on a musical instrument
#5: Activity Music Therapy
This involves musical games designed by the music therapist and may involve the use of percussion or tuned
instruments or voice. This is a favorite therapy of autistic children.
Oftentimes therapists will use a combination of these 5 therapies with an autistic child. Autistic children do not
need musical skills to benefit from music therapy. In fact, most autistic children have a natural love and affinity for
music.
Music and Autism: How Autistic Children Benefit From Music

Therapy
There are many examples of autistic children improving their social, behavioral, or communication abilities when
given music therapy. Although the results vary from child to child, there are many positive outcomes when music is
used with autistic children.
Music therapies help autistic children improve their social, behavioral, and communication abilities.
Here are some examples of children with autism and the positive ways they respond to music therapy:
Example #1: Autistic Girl & Music Sound Therapy
One 21-month old girl was diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), which is part of the autism
spectrum. She did not speak; her parents could not get her to respond to her name and her method of
communicating was grunting.
She was given music sound therapy which required her to listen to the music of Mozart for several hours each day
for several weeks. It paid off! One day when driving her home from music therapy, she said to her parents, “I want
cookie.” From that time on, she continued to make progress and today as a ten-year-old she uses language to
interact with others and her behaviors are like any normal child.
Example #2: Autistic Boy & Songs
A six-year-old high functioning autistic boy had behavioral issues when there were changes to his routine such as
when he had to wait in line at school. His reaction was agitation and aggression. He was taught a musical song to
help him understand the importance of patiently waiting. After learning the song, his anxiety and aggression
decreased and he was able to patiently wait with the other children in line.
Example #3: Autistic Girl & Music Therapy
A three-year-old autistic girl received musical interaction therapy that included 20-minute music therapy sessions
twice a week for 7 months. The result? Her socialization, eye contact, and initiation with her mother increased
substantially.
Music and Autism: A Way to Connect to Family and the World
My friend has an autistic son (Trenton) who loves and responds to music. Before he was a year old, he could sing
the “Happy Birthday” song with perfect pitch. They also notice that every time he sings, it is with near-perfect pitch,
often after hearing the music only once.
Trenton loves and responds to music. He can remember songs after hearing them one time and sings with perfect pitch.
Before he goes to bed at night, he loves hearing his father play the guitar while his parents sing to him.
His teacher at school plays the guitar and sings poems that have been set to music. Trenton hears the music only
once and is able to sing it back on key. Even after a year or more of hearing these poem-songs, Trenton will
suddenly start singing them—word perfect and with perfect pitch.
Music helps to calm Trenton and helps him to focus, socialize and communicate.
Music and Autism: The Benefits of Music Activities

Alexandra Raber of Birmingham-Southern College wanted to see if various music activities would help autistic
children become more engaged in their school lessons.
She studied 22 children with autism and how they responded to 5 different music activities:
Songs with movement
Songs without movement
Action songs
Songs with full-body movement
Playing instruments
Raber measured their verbal response, physical response, attention and eye contact. Of the 5 activities, only one
resulted in full participation by all 22 students and that was: instrument playing! The children LOVED playing the
instruments and they all responded with greater verbalization, more attentive and better eye contact.
These examples and hundreds like them demonstrate how profoundly music can change the lives of children with
autism. Music helps them to bond with family members, to communicate with people, and to connect to the outside
world. Just as autism seems to lock them out of society, music draws them back in. It becomes the key to their
social, emotional and physical awareness.
5 Music Ideas for Autistic Children
If you have a child on the autism spectrum consider including the following music activities to include in their daily
routines. Make them appropriate for their development.
If you have an autistic child, add music and music activities to their daily routine
#1: Sing & Create Songs

Sing songs to your autistic child and encourage them to sing along. He/she may not be able to repeat the words,
but more than likely, they will be able to hum the tune.
You can also make up different songs or jingles for different things you want them to do such as songs to:
make their beds
clean their rooms

brush their teeth
take a bath
go to bed
get ready for school, etc.
Anything that they have difficulty doing—create a song; teach it to them and sing it or hum it together.
#2: Play Classical Music
If your autistic child is upset, angry or agitated, play classical music for him/her. Classical music has been shown
to have a calming effect on children of all ages with all different challenges. Try music from the Baroque, Classical
or Romantic period—the complexity of the music from these periods induce alpha waves for quiet, focused energy.
Create a free account on Spotify and download these suggestions:
Johannes Brahms: Concerto for Violin, D Major, op. 77
Johannes Brahms: Lullaby or Cradle Song
Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg Concerto no. 2, third movement
Johann Sebastian Bach: Fugue in G Minor, “The Little”
Frederic Chopin: “Raindrop Prelude”
George Frideric Handel: Water Music, Alla Hornpipe

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A Major, last movement
Johann Pachelbel: Canon in D
#3: Rhythm Instruments
Purchase a variety of rhythm instruments for your child. If loud sounds bother him/her, choose rhythm instruments
that make a softer sound such as small bells, finger cymbals, xylophones, or a small stringed instrument. Note
which instruments they like and gradually add other rhythm instruments that create louder sounds such as
recorders, triangles or a drum
#4: Clapping, Marching and Rhythm Games
Play clapping games with your autistic child and help them to mimic your rhythms.
Rhythm is important for brain organization. Play clapping games with your child. Help him/her to mimic the rhythm
you are clapping to. In the beginning, take their hands and clap each rhythm. If they would rather “clap” the rhythm
with their feet—join with them.
If they prefer to move their whole bodies—stand up and march to the music—with arms swinging and legs
marching high in the air. Movement, marching, and clapping will all increase brain organization and learning.
#5: Group Music Classes
Does your community offer simple music programs such as Kindermusik, “Let’s Play Music” or other group music
classes? These are music programs that require a parent to accompany a child to each class. Observe a class and
from your observations, determine if your autistic child would fit into the class and would be something they would
like and enjoy. Many autistic children do not like crowds, noise, and too much stimulation. Be aware of this when
you are looking for a class.
Research group music classes that would be appropriate for your autistic child and give them a positive experience.
One suggestion: if you are concerned about your child acting appropriately in the class—ask the teacher if you can
purchase or borrow the music she will be playing in class. Then play this music for your child repeatedly prior to
class. And explain to your child some of the things he/she will be expected to do—such as participating in activities
such as sitting, singing, dancing, taking turns, etc.
Autistic children love and respond to music. And as illustrated, music helps them communicate, socialize and feel a
part of the world.
To access the resources and studies included in this post, refer to my book, Good Music Brighter Children.
Do you have an autistic child? How do you use music to engage with your child? Has
it been helpful for your child? Please comment in the section below.
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Comments
SHARLENE HABERMEYER says

F E B R UA R Y 7, 2 0 2 0 AT 1 : 4 9 P M
Thanks so much Tiffany for your continued support! Appreciate your comments!
TIFFANY says
FEBRUARY 6 , 2020 AT 11:40 AM
Sharing this post with my brother and sister-in-law right now!!! Thank you for this, Sharlene. I can’t begin
to tell you how helpful this will be for them. Your content here on the blog is stellar and parents are in
good hands with you. Thanks for always sharing your wisdom with us.
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4/16/23, 10:54 AM Music and Autism: Here are Amazing Ways Music Helps

HOME MY STORY STORE BLOG CO N TACT FREEBIES RESOURCES TIDBITS

Search this websi

PA R E N T I N G MUSIC BOOKS ANCESTORS/ TRADITION NUTRITION G R A N D PA R E N T I N G

SIGN UP FOR THE GOOD PARENTING BRIGHTER CHILDREN NEWSLET TER SE

in GOOD MUSIC BRIGHTER CHILDREN· GOOD PARENTING BRIGHTER CHILDREN

Music and Autism: Here are Amazing Ways Music

It’s a concern with no medical cure.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a disorder characterized by

abnormalities in social interactions

This breaks down to one in every 54 boys with the disorder.

The American Psychiatric Association lists 5 subtypes of ASD:

3. Childhood disintegrative disorder

Music and Autism: How Music Helps Autistic Children

with typical children.

Music Therapy and Autism: 5 Therapies that Help

#1: Receptive Music Therapy

This involves listening to live or recorded music.

#2: Compositional Music Therapy

With compositional therapy the patient creates music

#3: Improvisational Music Therapy

Therapy where the therapist guides the patient to create music

#4: Recreative Music Therapy

#5: Activity Music Therapy

instruments or voice. This is a favorite therapy of autistic children.

Music and Autism: How Autistic Children Benefit From Music

used with autistic children.

Example #1: Autistic Girl & Music Sound Therapy

communicating was grunting.

Example #2: Autistic Boy & Songs

Example #3: Autistic Girl & Music Therapy

Music and Autism: A Way to Connect to Family and the World

often after hearing the music only once.

suddenly start singing them—word perfect and with perfect pitch.

Music and Autism: The Benefits of Music Activities

children become more engaged in their school lessons.

Songs with movement

Songs without movement

Songs with full-body movement

social, emotional and physical awareness.

5 Music Ideas for Autistic Children

routines. Make them appropriate for their development.

#1: Sing & Create Songs

make their beds

clean their rooms

get ready for school, etc.

#2: Play Classical Music

Create a free account on Spotify and download these suggestions:

Johannes Brahms: Concerto for Violin, D Major, op. 77

Johannes Brahms: Lullaby or Cradle Song

Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg Concerto no. 2, third movement

Johann Sebastian Bach: Fugue in G Minor, “The Little”

Frederic Chopin: “Raindrop Prelude”

George Frideric Handel: Water Music, Alla Hornpipe

Johann Pachelbel: Canon in D

#3: Rhythm Instruments

#4: Clapping, Marching and Rhythm Games

with their feet—join with them.