Music Therapy for Language and Social Skills in Autistic Children

Effectiveness of Music Therapy for Speech Delay and Social Skills in Children With Autism

This research is a single-blind randomized controlled trial, where the investigators plan to recruit 40 children with autism, randomly divided into two groups. The music therapy intervention group will receive an hour of group music therapy in addition to traditional language therapy. The control group will receive only traditional language therapy. The trial will last for 8 weeks, and participants in both groups will be assessed before and after the trial.

During the study, the investigators will assess the language abilities autism trait performance, adaptive function, emotional behavior, and parent-child stress levels.

This research is a single-blind randomized controlled trial, where the investigators plan to recruit 40 children with autism, randomly divided into two groups. The music therapy intervention group will receive an hour of group music therapy in addition to traditional language therapy. The control group will receive only traditional language therapy. The trial will last for 8 weeks, and participants in both groups will be assessed before and after the trial.

During the study, the investigators will assess the language abilities, autism trait performance, adaptive function, emotional behavior, and parent-child stress levels.

The study hypothesizes that music therapy can contribute to improving language development delays in children with autism and may enhance their language development. The investigators hope that this research can propose more diversified therapeutic methods for language development in children with autism.

Inclusion Criteria:

• children with autism
• aged 3-5 y/o
• children with speech delay (T-score of Preschool Language Scale < 40)
• Mandarin as first language

Exclusion Criteria:

• children with other neurological diseases
• children without verbal output
• children with articulation or voice disorder