Mentor
Dr. Mary Adamek
Participation year
2007
Project title

Music Therapy to Support Language Development in Young Children with Autism

Abstract
The researcher reviewed literature concerning the goals, outcomes, and interventions used by music therapists to help young children with autism develop language skills. Young children with autism typically have problems in developmental rates, responses to sensory stimuli, speech skills, language skills, cognitive skills, and capacities to relate to people. Three primary approaches to language development are the developmental language approach, the naturalistic behavioral language approach, and the didactic behavioral approach. Music therapy capitalizes on language development in helping to improve language/communication, increase behavioral skills, support perceptual motor skills, and enhance cognitive skills. Music therapy has taken these approaches and incorporated music to support non-music goals and aid the developmental process for young children with autism. Some of these interventions include singing, instrument playing, movement, listening/relaxation, improvisational music and the use of sung social stories. Music therapy has been shown to be an effective intervention tool to promote language/communication skills and positive behavioral skills in your children with autism.
LeMorris  Hunt
Education
Delta State University