Autism and Music Therapy

Written by Eisla Sebastian

When you have a child that has autism you desperately seek things that will allow you to connect with them. One thing that has been effective at reaching many kids with autism is music. The connection between music and autism has not really been explained, but it most likely has to do with the structure that is inherent in music, its sensory stimulation and perhaps the stimulation of the music processing portion of the brain. Whatever the reason is, music can be a great tool for helping kids with autism to express themselves and to manage their behavior.

Music Therapy
Music therapy can be used with kids that have autism. It involves the use of music in a therapeutic setting to help produce desired reactions or behaviors. For example, it can be used to connect with autistic children who are normally withdrawn or non-responsive to people trying to communicate with them. Music therapy can also be used to help downgrade behavioral outbursts or to encourage physical interactions with another person.

Music as a Soother
Music has the ability to elicit emotional responses from people. This characteristic can be used to help sooth kids with autism when they are having a melt down or having a difficult time adjusting to a new environment. The key to using music as a soothing device is to find the type of music that your child find soothing, interesting or enjoyable. This can take some time and it will take experimentation. However, when you find the music track that works you will notice its impact right away.

Music Equipment
If you want to use music as a soothing tool or as a stimulator you will need to pick up a few pieces of equipment. First you will need a audio player such as a CD player or a boombox. When you purchase electronics look for devices that are designed for young children. These items are more resistant to damage caused by drops and impacts. In addition to a music player you will also need to pick up a good pair of headphones. You don't want to get the kind that insert into your ears, but the kind that have cushioned ear-muffs. If you can afford it, the ones that can cancel out sound work great. Finally you will need a collection of CDs or MP3 downloads, depending on what type of music player you select. If you are low on cash you can also utilize Internet radio stations like Slacker for a great selection of free music from all sorts of genres.

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Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Autism and Music Therapy: Ideas and Theories of a Parent

There are many, many theories on the use of Music Therapy for children with Autism. And while my own son has never actually received Music Therapy officially, music has provided him with comfort and stability during his 12 years of life so far.

When he was just 18 months old, Matt could not walk, but he could bop to music. Incidentally, it was Janet Jackson's Design of a Decade that he started out with. After that, he expanded into Barney, Teletubbies, Sesame Street, Disney, 80's music, Classical Music, Motown, and eventually worked his way up to more current artists like Clay Aiken, Phil Collins, Elton John and Evanescence. He also enjoys Enya and Yanni. The key to using music as therapy for a child with Autism is the type of music. That is my theory anyways.

I have found, through experience, that the calmer the style of music, the calmer the child is. This is especially important with children on the Autism Spectrum. Oftentimes, children with Autism have problems with aggression and are prone to fits of violence. This is not the case with everyone, but to be on the safe side, it is best to ere on the side of caution and keep them away from the more "violent" types of music like Rap or Hip Hop. I have nothing against the genre in particular, but I don't feel it's appropriate for children with Autism to listen to music with questionable lyrics that talk about violence or other things of an inappropriate nature.

It is imperative that children with Autism be exposed to music early on if they are able to handle the stimulation. Some children with Autism can not tolerate music. For those that can however, starting early is the key. Often times, a soft Concerto or Meditation music is a good place to start, especially with toddlers. I used to help Matt go to sleep by playing music that was nothing more than the sounds of the Ocean. It worked. He couldn't go to sleep without it.

As he grew older, he did not need it, but even now, he is using a walkman with a CD of Evanescence in it, to keep himself calm when he needs help. He has told me as much. The school he attends also uses a sort of Music Therapy with him, allowing him to play a keyboard they have at the school. They also encourage him to go into the lower grade classrooms to sing to the younger children. It has worked wonders for both his self-esteem and his social skills, too. As a matter of fact, this year was the second year he sang in the school talent show.

The most interesting thing about this is that he was able to teach himself how to play the keyboard solely based on the music he's heard. He taught himself more than a dozen Christmas Carols and two Star Trek themes songs. All by just listening to the music. He had no sheet music at the beginning. And when I did buy him the Big Notes Sheet Music, the notes he was playing were identical to the sheet music. And I know that he's not the only Autistic Child to have this gift. It's very inspirational to see that, despite his Autism, he's got a definite gift. One that makes him very happy.

And it all started with music. So, if you have a toddler, or even an older child, see what music can do for them. It will be one of the best things you'll ever do to help make their Autism easier to deal with.

One last note. For most kids, Disney is a staple in every household. Try showing them Fantasia or Fantasia 2000..it will introduce them to classical music composers like George Gershwin and Beethoven. And that's not a bad place to start.

At least that's my theory. I hope that this provides assistance to other parents with children on the Autism Spectrum.

By : Elizabeth Tabian-Sosin

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Music Therapy: Effective Treatment for Autism

Implication and Use

In recent years, autism has gained widespread recognition as a significant complication among children, affecting growth and development. With far more children diagnosed today with autism, than in years past, measures have been taken to create therapy programs that are uniquely designed to address the needs of autistic children.

Music therapy is a service that is becoming increasingly more common for autistic children and their families. For children in the age group that is most interested in capturing their autonomy, usually around age three, the use of music therapy may have the greatest implications. As the period when children begin to express an interest in achieving tasks on their own, music therapy can assist the autistic child in doing so through the management of verbal expression.

For children with autism, the interest in gaining autonomy and performing tasks for themselves may not be enticing. As a result, many autistic children become extremely dependent on their parents for every aspect of their care. With the use of music therapy, autistic children can learn to not only perform self-care tasks, but also value the task for what it is; a chance to develop some form of independence.

Because autism may lead your child to become easily confused with tasks and instructions, self-care can often be a challenge for the autistic child to comprehend. Using music and lyrics, which incorporate these tasks, can assist a child in making that connection, cognitively, and learn to appreciate and perform the task. In the children's show, Barney and Friends, many children learn to incorporate independent tasks into their lives through the songs and lyrics provided. This same concept works for autistic children who have difficulty in performing these same tasks.

When struggling to teach your child the basis self-care tasks, such as brushing teeth, using the restroom and even taking a bath, it may be necessary to seek the guidance of a music therapist. With the intervention of a music therapist, you can obtain songs and music that is designed to teach your child these processes at home. In addition, a music therapist, with daily therapy, can guide your child through these tasks using music and lyrics. While it may seem odd to sing the steps of a simple self-care task, children with autism often process this form of learning best.

While there are many treatment options to consider for autistic children, music therapy is making great strides in improving the learning for all children, especially those with autism. By applying lyrics and music to daily activities, children learn to not only perform valuable independent tasks, but also learn to appreciate the task for what it is. When seeking treatment for your autistic child, ask your pediatrician about the services of a music therapist.

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Music Therapy Helping Autistic Children

It Creates Another Road to Communicate

People are beginning to use music therapy in dealing with autistic children. It has proved to be a form of communication that includes getting things done.

In The Miami Herald's "Health" section Jean Hwang of The Washington Post has written an article titled "Music gets backing for addressing autism." In the article she reports that Judy Simpson is working with her Jana. In order to get her to cooperate and enjoy her bath she sings to her. Jana is 15-years-old.

Judy is a music therapist. Jana is enrolled in music class with 37 other autistic children. She has never been able to develop normal speech patterns.

As the report goes on to tell us, a typical class would include a teacher sitting in a semi-circle and singling and play and instrument. The children may participate in some way such as shaking maracas and some rock back and forth.

Some children are agitated by sounds. Whether it is the sounds of ambulances or the music at school they react.

As with many medical conditions there are many different levels of affectation. There are kids that can for example, play music and even compose music.

With children who are more challenged it is a matter of trying to get them to do the basics. It is simply another way to communicate.

I am not surprised at the success of music when used this way.

When our sons were babies I would walk with them and I always sang a song I made up. It's called "A Little Old Man in a Boat" -- if you care. This song either put those boys to sleep or, it calmed them down or helped them focus.

It has done the same for our new granddaughter.

It is sad that people who sometimes mean well can cause hurt because of their ignorance of a condition.

I know a boy very well who has Autism. He is a great child and has a lot of friends.

His teacher thinking she was doing him a favor had him get up in front of the class and tell them how and why he was "different."

Of course he was upset and told his parents and there was a big problem but the point here is that people aren't educated about illness.

I have taken several music courses. Music's history, definitions and methods for use is a fascinating study.

Reference: http://www.miamiherald.com/living/health/story/963460.html

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The Power of Music To Reduce Stress

By Jane Collingwood

The soothing power of music is well-established. It has a unique link to our emotions, so can be an extremely effective stress management tool.

Listening to music can have a tremendously relaxing effect on our minds and bodies, especially slow, quiet classical music. This type of music can have a beneficial effect on our physiological functions, slowing the pulse and heart rate, lowering blood pressure, and decreasing the levels of stress hormones.

As music can absorb our attention, it acts as a distraction at the same time it helps to explore emotions. This means it can be a great aid to meditation, helping to prevent the mind wandering.

Musical preference varies widely between individuals, so only you can decide what you like and what is suitable for each mood. But even if you don’t usually listen to classical music it may be worth giving it a try when selecting the most calming music.

When people are very stressed, there is a tendency to avoid actively listening to music. Perhaps it feels like a waste of time, not helping to achieve anything. But as we know, productivity increases when stress is reduced, so this is another area where you can gain vast rewards. It just takes a small effort to begin with.

To incorporate music into a busy life, try playing CDs in the car, or put the radio on when in the bath or shower. Take portable music with you when walking the dog, or put the stereo on instead of the TV.

Singing (or shouting) along can also be a great release of tension, and karaoke is very enjoyable for some extroverts! Calming music before bedtime promotes peace and relaxation and helps to induce sleep.

Research on Music
Music has been used for hundreds of years to treat illnesses and restore harmony between mind and body. But recently, scientific studies have attempted to measure the potential benefits of music. They have found:

• Music’s form and structure can bring order and security to disabled and distressed children. It encourages coordination and communication, so improves their quality of life.
• Listening to music on headphones reduces stress and anxiety in hospital patients before and after surgery.
• Music can help reduce both the sensation and distress of both chronic pain and postoperative pain.
• Listening to music can relieve depression and increase self-esteem ratings in elderly people.
• Making music can reduce burnout and improve mood among nursing students.
• Music therapy significantly reduces emotional distress and boosts quality of life among adult cancer patients.

Meditation
Certain music is appropriate for meditation as it can help the mind slow down and initiate the relaxation response. However, not all peaceful or “New Age” music works for everyone. Music with no structure can be irritating or even unsettling. Gentle music with a familiar melody more often is comforting. But search around to find what produces a sense of calm, familiarity, and centeredness for you as an individual.

The sounds of nature often are incorporated into CDs made specifically for relaxation. For example, the sound of water can be soothing for some people. It can help conjure up calming images such as lying beside a mountain stream on a warm spring day. Birdsong may also be of use as an aid to help your mind slow down and release stressful thoughts.


Music Therapy
Because music has the potential to influence us both psychologically and physiologically, it is an important area of therapy for stress management. Music therapy can make use of biofeedback, guided imagery, and other established techniques to play an important role in the treatment of people with stress-related disorders. But due to the dramatic effects music can have, a trained and knowledgeable music therapist always is required.

When used in combination with biofeedback techniques, music can reduce tension and facilitate the relaxation response. It may be more compatible with relaxation than verbal stimuli, which may be distracting — music is processed mainly in nonverbal areas of the brain.

Music may help people to identify and express the feelings associated with their stress. In a music therapy session, the client can express these emotions, providing an important cathartic release.

Producing music in an improvisational way, and discussing pieces of music and lyrics in a group, can also help us become more aware of our emotional reactions and share them constructively with the group.

Thinking More Clearly
Finally, listening to music can help the brain by improving learning and memory skills, always useful when we’re under stress. This has come to be known as “The Mozart Effect.” Experiments carried out by scientists at the University of California at Irvine found that students’ test scores improved after listening to a recording of Mozart, compared with either a relaxation tape or silence. This may be because the processing of music shares some of the same pathways in the brain as memory.

References

1. Allen K. et al. Normalization of hypertensive responses during ambulatory surgical stress by perioperative music. Psychosomatic Medicine, Vol. 63, May/June 2001, pp. 487-92.
2. Aldridge D., Gustoff D. and Neugebauer L. A pilot study of music therapy in the treatment of children with developmental delay. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, Vol. 3, October 1995, pp. 197-205.
3. Hanser S. B. and Thompson L. W. Effects of a music therapy strategy on depressed older adults. Stanford University School of Medicine. Journal of Gerontology, Vol. 49, November 1994, pp. 265-69.
4. Good M. A comparison of the effects of jaw relaxation and music on postoperative
5. pain. Nursing Research, Vol. 44, Jan/Feb 1995, pp. 52-57.
6. Bittman B. B. Recreational music-making: an integrative group intervention for reducing burnout and improving mood states in first year associate degree nursing students: insights and economic impact. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship, published online July 9, 2004.
7. Waldon E. G. The effects of group music therapy on mood states and cohesiveness in adult oncology patients. Journal of Music Therapy, Vol. 38, Fall 2001, pp. 212-38.
8. Burns D. S. The effect of the bonny method of guided imagery and music on the mood and life quality of cancer patients. Journal of Music Therapy, Vol. 38, Spring 2001, pp. 51-65.
9. Rauscher F. H., Shaw G. L. and Ky K. N. Music and spatial task performance. Nature, Vol. 365, October 14, 1993, p. 611.

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Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Music Therapy With Emotionally Disturbed Children

David L. Hussey, Ph.D., and Deborah Layman, M.M., MT-BC
Dr. Hussey is assistant professor in the department of justice studies at Kent State University and faculty associate at the Institute for the Study and Prevention of Violence. Ms. Layman is a music therapist at Beech Brook Campus in Cleveland.

Music therapy is defined as "the prescribed use of music by a qualified person to effect positive changes in the psychological, physical, cognitive, or social functioning of individuals with health or educational problems" (American Music Therapy Association, 2003). While music therapy is closely aligned with the behavioral sciences, it is distinct in that it bridges art with science. Two publications by Elio Frattaroli, M.D., (2002, 2001) illustrate the dilemma faced by modern psychiatry in trying to understand mental illness, not only in the science of neurological processes but also in the art of skillful healing relationships.

Music therapists are skillful practitioners who orchestrate their talents to help soothe a wide variety of painful human conditions. While many psychiatrists are aware of the uses of music therapy for the treatment of autism, substance abuse, Alzheimer's disease and pain, far fewer are aware of the exciting work that's being done with children who have serious emotional disturbances.

Children with such disturbances have diagnosable mental health disorders and extreme functional impairment that limit or interfere with the ability to function in the family, school and/or community (Stroul and Friedman, 1994). Conservative estimates from epidemiological studies suggest that 8% to 12% of students ages 6 to 21 suffer from a significant disability, and approximately 8%, roughly 470,000 of this population, are identified through their schools as being emotionally disturbed (U.S. Department of Education, 2001).

A review of the music therapy literature delineates at least three broad domains of functioning where music therapy has been successfully utilized in the treatment of emotionally disturbed children: affect regulation, communication and social/behavioral dysfunction. Assessment and intervention in each of these domains requires strong grounding in developmental theory, a key component in the training of music therapists. Early on, music therapy was identified as an intervention to treat impairments in affective functioning, including reducing levels of anxiety (Cooke, 1969), and as a tool to improve emotional responsiveness (Wasserman, 1972). Music therapy has been well-suited to help improve communication deficits and stimulate nonverbal communication. Numerous positive outcomes in improving social functioning, social awareness and cooperation (Werbner, 1966), and decreasing disruptive behaviors (Hong et al., 1998) have been reported. One of the major contemporary applications for music therapy is working with children who have serious emotional disturbances and high degrees of impulsivity and limited ability to self-regulate (Layman et al., 2002).


Some of the modalities and techniques used in the treatment of emotionally disturbed children include live music production (e.g., playing instruments and/or singing), improvisation, guided imagery (e.g., pairing of visualization with music), creative songwriting and lyric analysis. After a careful assessment of the child's needs and capabilities, music therapists formulate individualized treatment plans that include goals and measurable objectives. Music therapists reinforce and shape targeted behaviors, while dynamically exploring underlying feelings and issues. Music therapists who work on multidisciplinary treatment teams often concentrate on a specific subset of treatment goals or objectives most appropriate for music therapy intervention. These techniques are applied in a variety of community treatment settings, as well as in hospitals, residential treatment centers and partial hospitalization programs. Therapy sessions with children typically last from 30 to 60 minutes and may be structured to include individual, family and group formats.

Rationale for Music Therapy

An advantage of music therapy is that it is an inherently nonthreatening and inviting medium. It offers a child a safe haven from which to explore feelings, behaviors and issues ranging from self-esteem to severe emotional dysregulation. Music therapy techniques can be designed to address more complex issues such as grief, abandonment or deeply conflicted emotions. As a medium, music therapy has enormous range and scope in targeting multiple clinical needs across the gamut of childhood developmental stages. It can set the occasion for a child to establish a meaningful relationship with an adult through musical play and interaction. Music therapy can also facilitate the development of prosocial skills, trust and feelings of positive attachment. Developmentally, almost all children respond to music. This greatly assists in laying a strong foundation for engaging in deeper therapeutic work. Children's natural interest in music is enhanced by the fact that they are occupied in stimulating motor and auditory activities more associated with play or fun than work or therapy. The careful and repetitious orchestration of such multisensory experiences, in the context of a skillful and nurturing relationship, has a remarkable range of clinical benefits.

Music Therapy Applications

The mental health care and child welfare fields are searching for effective therapies that can be utilized with victimized children, especially those who have comorbid disorders. The most heavily researched psychiatric sequelae of victimization is posttraumatic stress disorder, and its most frequently studied treatment is cognitive-behavioral therapy. A concerning gap in the treatment literature is that many emotionally disturbed children suffer from cognitive deficits and developmental disabilities. Research indicates that the average IQ of child welfare populations undergoing intensive mental health treatment is in the low- to mid-80s (Hussey and Guo, 2002). Such intellectual and information-processing deficits render cognitive and verbal therapies less effective for these children than for children with higher IQs.

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