Music Therapy and Autism

Paper Summary:

This paper describes an experiment that uses behavioral therapy in the treatment of autism. In this experiement, music us used as a reinforcement in behavior therapy. The paper points out that music in this experiment is not being used as a therapy, but rather as a reward component of behavioral therapy to increase the motivation for repetition of desired behaviors. The paper then relates the details of the experiment, which supports the hypothesis that music is an effective supplemental reinforcement for increased learning and comprehension abilities in autistic children.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Subjects
Demographics of the Children
Methods
Results

From the Paper:

"However, some precedent and empirical guidance of choice of subject age can be found in research. For example, it has been found in a study of musicians that brain plasticity is most dramatic when training begins before age seven. Further, creating enthusiasm and fostering a rewarding relationship between autistic children and their parents at a young age (beginning at and before three years of age in the study) have been reported to be important factors of treatment success in an examination Lovaas's successful behavioral treatments for autistic children."

Sample of Sources Used:

• ADD ADHD Library (1996-2007). Diagnosis of ADHD Diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder. Retrieved Feb. 19, 2008 from http://newideas.net/attention_deficit/diagnosis.htm
• Blood, A. J. & Zatorre, R. J. Intensely pleasurable responses to music correlate with activity in brain regions implicated in reward and emotion. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 98, 11818-11823 (2001).
• Boso, M., Emanuele E., Minazzi V., Abbamonte M., Politi P (2007). Effect of long-term interactive music therapy on behavior profile and musical skills in young adults with server autism. Journal Of Alternative And Complementary Medicine (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 13 (7), pp.709-12. Retrieved Feb 5, 2008 from SNHU MEDLINE.
• Bower, B. (1989). Remodeling the Autistic Child, Science News. Vol. 136, Issue 20. Retrieved from Academic Search Primer.
• Brazelton T.B., & Greenspan S.I. (2000). The Irreducible Needs of Children: What Every Child Must Have to Grow, Learn, and Flourish.

More papers on Music Therapy and Autism:

• Research Paper # 68751 : "Music Therapy and Autistic Children"
• Analytical Essay # 128105 : "Music Therapy"
• Research Paper # 117806 : "Music Therapy"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: