Effectiveness of music therapy in children with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

ObjectivesThis study was to investigated the efficacy of music therapy (MT) in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) via a meta-analysis that comprehensively evaluated data from all eligible research in this field.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.SettingA systematic search of the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases from inception to October 2021 to identify studies that administered MT to children with ASD.ResultsEight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including 608 participants met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis showed that MT was associated with a significant increase in social reactions among children with ASD (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.24, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.03, 0.46], I2 = 0%, P = 0.03). However, MT did not elicit a significant increase in symptom severity (SMD = 0.17, 95% CI [−0.04,0.38], I2 = 0%,P = 0.12), social adaptive behavior (SMD = 0.02, 95% CI [−0.44,0.48], I2 = 0%,P = 0.93) or speech (SMD = 0.04, 95% CI [−0.39, 0.47], I2 = 0%, P = 0.86) in children with ASD.ConclusionMT can improve social skills in children with ASD; however, there does not seem to be a consensus on the persistence of its effects. These findings can inform clinical practice. Promoting the use of MT in children with ASD and improving its symptoms are the ultimate goals.

Interventions through Art Therapy and Music Therapy in Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Language Disorders, and Learning Disabilities in Pediatric-Aged Children: A Systematic Review

“…With regard to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the instruments most frequently employed by researchers are the Behavioral Assessment System for Children (BASC), which allows for the assessment of behavior in children with ADHD [ 64 ]; the ADHD Diagnostic Questionnaire (ADHD-RS), which is used to measure the severity of ADHD symptoms [ 51 ]; and the Conners Scale, which assesses ADHD through parent and teacher reports [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 28 , 36 , 43 , 48 , 51 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 ].…”

“…The efficacy of music therapy in enhancing social responsiveness and communication skills in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and language disorders has been demonstrated in multiple studies [ 39 , 44 , 47 , 68 ]. Additionally, music therapy has been shown to alleviate the symptoms of these disorders in children [ 26 , 43 , 53 , 69 , 70 , 71 ], particularly in behaviors [ 39 , 44 , 47 , 53 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 ] and cognitive skills [ 23 , 29 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 ].…”

The Use of Music Therapy in Instruction Compliance for Students With Autism

“…Ye et al (2021) reported a significant reduction in aggressive behavior and an improvement in self-control in children and adolescents who received music-based interventions, primarily through music therapy. Music therapy not only reduces negative behavior but also shows a significant increase in the social interaction of children with autism (Ke et al, 2022). During therapy activities together with fellow students, they were Special Education [SE] e-ISSN: 2821-3017 Volume 2, Issue 1, 2024 DOI:https://doi.org/10.59055/se.v2i1.18 seen to interact better with peers.…”

Supporting youth mental health with arts-based strategies: a global perspective

“…Engagement in creative tasks also activates the hippocampal cortex in the limbic system-increasing alpha and theta brain waves associated with relaxed states, meditation, and memory retrieval [53][54][55]. Moreover, in clinical settings, various art forms have been used to treat people with developmental disorders or traumatic brain injury, and have been shown to have positive biological and psychological effects [56,57].…”