The Benefits Of Music Therapy In Autistic Children
Music therapy in autistic children has multiple benefits. Their attention is awakened, they open up to those around them and suddenly, although they cannot verbalize what they are feeling, they encounter an exceptional channel to express their emotions. In addition, according to recent studies, music improves the psychosocial development of the child.
Living with autism is not easy for children and their families. Indeed, all these boys and girls find themselves locked in their very specific mental and sensory universe where it is very difficult to come into contact with the outside world.
There are codes they don’t understand, stimuli that are painful, and situations that can trigger unexpected reactions. And in the midst of these worlds of absolute uncertainty in which they live, there are the parents who love them.
There is also a whole set of professionals who try, day in and day out, to guide them and create situations that improve children’s behavior. Their goal is not only to improve the quality of life, but also to find channels of expression that allow them to open up and connect with those around them.
In this regard, the music is never lacking. We all know that it leaves few people indifferent, that this language awakens in each of us sensations, experiences, memories as well as a multitude of emotions.
However, for people with autism spectrum disorder, the impact goes much further. It would indeed be an exceptional therapy which makes it possible to obtain remarkable changes.
“I hear you better when I’m not looking at you. Eye contact is uncomfortable. People will never understand the fight I am leading to be able to do this ”.
-Wendy Lawson, 1998-
Music therapy in autistic children, a big help
The benefits of music therapy for children with autism have been recognized for decades. However, it is only in the last year that we have a deeper understanding of what changes, connections, and processes music generates in the brains of people with autism spectrum disorder.
Nature magazine published in 2018 an interesting study by Dr. Megdha Sharda, from the International Brain, Music and Sound Research Laboratory (BRAMS), in the Department of Psychology at the University of Montreal. It was therefore discovered that music therapy generates changes in autistic children after three months.
In addition, there are two perceived changes: improved communication and expressiveness, and emotional control. Let’s take a look at this in more detail.
Stimulation of the visual and auditory regions
Leo Kanner was the first psychiatrist to describe what is known today as autism spectrum disorder. Curiously, it was also he who advanced the fact that, despite the inter-individual differences of each autistic individual, all showed a considerable interest in musical stimuli.
However, music is not a way for them to experience calm. Indeed, music therapy in autistic children is a way to awaken and focus their attention and concentration.
Additionally, through magnetic resonance imaging, we know that a person with autism spectrum disorder exhibits a higher level of attention than typically developing individuals (that is, without autism).
On the other hand, we know that neural connectivity is more important in the auditory and visual regions. This is of paramount importance since autistic children have obvious difficulty in receiving and maintaining eye contact.
Autistic children’s brain hyper-connectivity finds its balance in music
One of the hallmarks of children with autism spectrum disorder is their significant brain hyperconnectivity. This reality implies, for example, that any stimulation is processed by all areas of the brain at the same time. Hence the confusion, hypersensitivity and preference for safe and controllable environments.
In addition, for autistic children, music therapy provides something sensational. Their hyperconnectivity indeed finds a point of order and almost absolute balance in contact with a song or a melody.
These people fully understand and process the characteristics of musical language such as timbre, intervals, rhythm, melody, etc. In addition, they are also able to associate emotions with the music while in turn imbibing this joy, this feeling of sadness, introspection or hope. It is a very striking fact.
Music therapy in autistic children improves their communication
As we know, sensory overstimulation is one of the main issues for children with autism spectrum disorder. For them, the world is too chaotic, our voice too deep, the lights too intense …
Everything is piling up and jostling in front of them nervously. This prevents them from encountering a safe space through which to connect to actually get in touch with us.
Music is a channel that makes this possible. Indeed, music therapy in autistic children improves their emotional state and stimulates the auditory and visual regions, allowing them to express their sensations. It also improves their social skills and even promotes communication.
Finally, musical stimuli constitute a space of balance and perfection to improve their attention. This therapeutic tool is a key to accessing their unique worlds and interacting better with them. And to move us by their side and gradually improve their sociability.
Our thoughts Unfortunately, many preconceived ideas about autism are deeply rooted in today’s society. What are they ?
