Music Therapy and Skill Development in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review

Author(s): Tabea Frei, Thomas Szucs

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects one in 100 children worldwide, posing challenges in communication, social interaction, and behavior. While music therapy (MT) shows promise in improving these areas, its comprehensive impact remains underexplored. The study evaluates the research question of whether MT has effects on key developmental outcomes in children with ASD. Method: This systematic review included randomized controlled and quasi-randomized trials published in English. Searches were conducted in PubMed and Cochrane databases. Participants were children with ASD. The intervention focused on music therapy, with control groups receiving standard therapy or placebo. Key outcomes included social interaction, communication, adaptive behavior, autism functioning, global improvement, and quality of life. Results: 14 studies on MT for children with ASD showed varied results. Intervention periods varied between 5 days and 8 months, with frequencies ranging from twice daily to once weekly. Key effects included improvements in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, global functioning, and quality of life at home and school. Conclusions: Future research should focus on robust methodologies, larger samples, and longer follow-ups. Investigating the effectiveness of MT group versus individual interventions offers an important direction for future research.