What is music therapy?

There are many different types of music therapy. For autistic people, music therapy uses interactive musical activities to improve social and communication skills.

Who is music therapy for?

Music therapy is for anyone of any age or ability.

What is music therapy used for?

Music therapy is used to improve social and communication skills.

Where does music therapy come from?

Music therapy was first used for children with additional needs in the early to mid-1900s in the United States. Its use became more widespread in the 1950s and 1960s in the United Kingdom.

Music therapy for autistic children developed as a way to help these children with social interaction and communication.

What is the idea behind music therapy?

For people who can’t easily communicate, music therapy can be a way of communicating and interacting. Instead of using words to communicate, people can use a range of musical activities like singing, playing instruments, improvising, songwriting and listening to music. These activities promote communication and social skills like making eye contact, sharing attention and taking turns.

Therapists can also use musical activities to teach new skills. This happens by pairing new skills with their own musical cues. Once children have learned the skills, they no longer need the cues. The cues are gradually phased out until the skills happen by themselves.

For an autistic child, a music therapist might also write lyrics about specific behaviour – for example, turn-taking. The therapist sings the lyrics to the melody of a song the child knows well. The idea is that the child might be better able to focus on sung information than spoken information.

What does music therapy involve?

Music therapy typically involves the following stages:

1. Assessment – the therapist assesses a child’s needs. Because music therapy is often used along with other autism therapies, the therapist might also consult the child’s GP or other therapists.
2. Goal-setting – an individualised program is developed based on the child’s needs.
3. Activities – sessions consist of activities designed to meet the child’s individual needs. These could include songwriting, moving to music, singing, playing instruments, listening to music, working in groups and improvising.
4. Evaluation – the program is regularly evaluated to make sure it’s working well.

Music therapy sessions can be one on one or in a group.

Children typically attend once a week for about 20-50 minutes. The duration of the therapy depends on children’s needs.

Does music therapy help autistic children?

Research has shown that music therapy can help children develop or improve skills like shared attention, social interaction, communication and play. It might help autistic children and children with intellectual disabilities more than typically developing children.

More research is needed to fully understand the benefits of music therapy.

Who practises music therapy?

Registered music therapists practise music therapy. A registered music therapist is someone who has completed an accredited training program and is registered with the Australian Music Therapy Association.

Music therapists work in a range of organisations including specialist schools, nursing homes, early intervention centres and mental health facilities. They also work in private practice.

Many therapists work with specific groups of people, so not all will have experience in working with autistic people. You’ll need to check the experience of any therapist you choose to work with.

Where can you find a practitioner?

You can find a registered music therapist on the Australian Music Therapy Association website.

If you’re interested in music therapy, it’s a good idea to talk about it with your GP or one of the other professionals working with your child. You could also talk about it with your NDIA planner, early childhood partner or local area coordinator, if you have one.

Parent education, training, support and involvement

If your child is having music therapy, your only involvement is taking your child to sessions.

Cost considerations

The cost per session varies and depends on the therapist.

You might be able to include the cost of music therapy in children’s NDIS plans. You can contact the NDIS to find out.

Therapies and supports for autistic children range from behavioural therapies and developmental approaches to medicines and alternative therapies. When you understand the main types of therapies and supports for autistic children, it’ll be easier to work out the approach that will best suit your child.