Autism is a complex neurological disorder that affects the verbal, social and cognitive developments within the first three years in a child after birth. These disabilities result in difficulty while communicating either verbally or non-verbally, lead to depression and uncontrolled outbursts of anger due to frustration. Music therapy for autism helps the children to convey their thoughts and work in unison to overcome their communication and social deficit.
Early intervention through art therapy such as dance therapy, drama therapy, and music therapy creates a supportive setting to help children bond with their parents, therapists and other participants in a healthy way. Music therapy helps children with autism to know how to communicate with others besides learning the use of instruments and the beats or rhythm to motivate one’s brains and body.
Can Music Make a Difference?
Music is said to stimulate both hemispheres of our brain. A therapist can use a tune or a melody and various instruments to support cognitive ability and self-awareness. Music therapy for nonverbal autism encourages communicative behavior which one of the most devastating symptoms that children with autism have difficulty with. To make music, the children are trained to work in unison and interact with one another. But for children with autism who find interacting with others difficult, the therapists first help them to bond with the chosen instrument and then develop a bonding with the group along with their instrument.
The Musical Support And What To Expect
Music therapy for nonverbal autism assists in teaching children how to communicate by learning a new word from a song, and also to understand how to act based on the emotion and the messages that it (song) convey. Listening to music in a group let the children feel confident to sing along with others. Dancing to the tune of the music can help to stimulate the sensory systems, and to enhance motor skills.
Music therapy is beneficial to not just children but also adults with autism. The music therapists involve valuable communication building exercise at the sessions. The therapists help to develop children’s skills in their own space with patience and understanding in a safe and jovial environment. A performance by the children receives applause and words of praise to motivate confidence.
Music sessions involve techniques for stimulating speech and sound, the skill to imitate and improved attention in children. The effectiveness of music therapy has revealed improvement in brain structure and its functions without the use of medications.
