Music therapy uses music and the interaction between the teacher/therapist and child to teach specific skills and may improve social and communication skills in children with autism. There are many different types of music therapy. Therapy activities promote interaction, expression and social skills such as taking turns. Sessions are conducted with a Registered Music Therapist who will assess individual need before creating goals and activities with ongoing evaluation.
- Supporting Evidence/ Likely treatment success
- Some evidence exists supporting this intervention, however more high-quality studies are needed.
- Link to more information
- Video presentation on benefits of Music Therapy – one on one session: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sgb9DrkVeE
- Video showing group music therapy session: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIH3MESWFZg
Number of participation hours required per week
Sessions are typically 20 to 50 minutes per week
Cost of intervention per week
|$0-$30||$30 – $80||$80 – $100||$100 – $120||$120 +|
$30 to $100 per session each week
Home, Clinic, or both?
|Home-based||Clinic or centre-based||Both or it doesn’t matter.|
|Possible pros of this intervention||Possible cons of this intervention|
|Promotes a range of skills.
Suitable for all ages.
|Registered Therapists might not be experienced in working specifically with people with autism.|