Music can have an impact on people of all ages and abilities, but it can have a special influence on children with autism.

According to a 2004 study from the Journal of Music Therapy, music in interventions can help children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders by:

  • improving social behaviors and decreasing the inappropriate ones
  • enhancing focus and attention
  • increasing vocalizations, gestures, verbalizations and vocabulary comprehension
  • increasing communication and engagement with others
  • improving body awareness and coordination
  • reducing anxiety

Often, autistic children will respond to music when nothing else will get their attention. Many children think it’s fun, and consider music another form of play.

Music Therapy at TLS

The Learning Spectrum’s Therapy Director, Megan Coltoniak, says that music is innately non-threatening, and helps with speech, motor, communication and academic goals.

Megan, along with music therapist Caroline Smith, provides group and one-on-one therapy to students at TLS. Megan says music is a preferred activity, because it dials into a different part of the brain than speech, and provides a different avenue of communication. She said that any child that has a reaction to music – positive or negative – could benefit from music therapy.

TLS’s music therapy department utilizes “adaptive music lessons,” or non-traditional approaches, that teach music in a different way. The therapists will use drum sets to help children learn about rhythm, stairs to help children understand the music staff and a trampoline to help children feel the difference between a quarter and half note.

Music helps kids because there is a sequence or order to most songs. Autistic children can learn this through music, which will help them understand other sequences in their lives.

TLS’s music therapy department uses a variety of instruments in their sessions, such as the piano, guitar, drums, egg shakers, maracas, tambourines, finger symbols, and kazoos. They’ll even use the iPad app Garage Band for older children, or help children make their own musical instruments to get the sound they want.

Music therapy groups are provided at every TLS site once a week for 30 minutes, and one to one therapy sessions are offered throughout the day, depending on the needs of the child.

The recent increase in the Autism Scholarship Program provides families with additional funding for services such as music therapy. If you feel your child could benefit from receiving music therapy services at TLS, please contact Megan at 614-844-5433 or mcoltoniak@thelearningspectrum.com to set up an evaluation.

The Learning Spectrum provides individualized services to children with autism both in and out of the school setting. Our goal is to help them reach their full potential and live a productive, independent life. Please visit our website for more information, www.thelearningspectrum.com.