New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Science News
from research organizations

Music therapy improves behavior in children with autism, study suggests

Date:
February 19, 2013
Source:
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)
Summary:
Weekly music therapy sessions can have a positive effect on behavior in children with autism, reports a new article. In a study of 41 children, improvements were seen particularly in inattentive behaviors over a ten month period.
Share:
FULL STORY

Weekly music therapy sessions can have a positive effect on behaviour in children with autism, reports a paper in Pertanika Journal. In a study of 41 children, improvements were seen particularly in inattentive behaviours over a ten month period.

Weekly music therapy sessions lasting just an hour can have a positive effect on behaviour in children with autism, reports a paper in Pertanika Journal this month. In a study of 41 children, improvements were seen particularly in inattentive behaviours over a ten month period. The researchers hope that their research will help children and young adults with autism to modify behaviour.

US Centers for Disease Control statistics state that one in every 150 children in United States is diagnosed with autism -- that is one new diagnosis in every 20 minutes. And the number is on the increase. Music and movement therapy has been used to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals of all ages. interventions can be designed to promote wellness, manage stress, alleviate pain, enhance memory, improve communication, and promote physical rehabilitation.

C M See of the Universiti Sains Malaysia divided the group into two age categories -- two to ten and eleven to twenty two -- and rated their behaviour on a target behaviour checklist developed specifically for the research. Over a ten month period they alternated two different hour-long sessions of music therapy and measured the children on the target behaviour checklist on a monthly basis. For behaviours such as restlessness, aggression toward other children, noisiness and tantrums more than half of each group improved by one or two points on the scale.

Some children showed no changes and a couple regressed. Overall the research suggests that the therapy has positive effects on the children's behaviours, but particularly with inattentive behaviour.


Story Source:

Materials provided by Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. See, C. M. The Use of Music and Movement Therapy to Modify Behaviour of Children with Autism. Pertanika J. Soc. Sci. & Hum., 20 (4): 1103 - 1116 (2012)

Cite This Page:

Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). "Music therapy improves behavior in children with autism, study suggests." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 19 February 2013. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130219140100.htm>.
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). (2013, February 19). Music therapy improves behavior in children with autism, study suggests. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130219140100.htm
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). "Music therapy improves behavior in children with autism, study suggests." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130219140100.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES