The Healing Powers of Music Therapy As an Autism Symptoms Treatment

There are many different forms of autism symptoms treatment. There are the more traditional therapies, such as applied behavior analysis (ABA) and floortime. And then there are a lot of alternative treatments as well.

The thing about all these alternative treatments is that you have to be very careful to research them before you try them, because not all of them are credible. But that said, sometimes you can find really good ones that will help your child if you look just a little outside the box.

How to Use Music Therapy to Help a Child with Autism

One such idea is music therapy. Music therapy can be surprisingly helpful as a treatment for autism symptoms. It has a way of connecting with those who have autism that can often not be achieved any other way. Those with no ability for communication have responded to and seemingly connect with music therapy.

Why is music therapy successful as an autism symptoms treatment?

People with autism often like patterns, and music is full of patterns. Music has rhythm to it. It is something that people with autism can feel. And they use a part of their brain which is entirely different than what is used for verbal communication.

Music is something that children with autism don't have to think much about or interpret. Music moves you, and allows you to express emotions that you might not have any other way of getting out and in this way it can help as an effective autism symptoms treatment.

How exactly is music therapy implemented for autistic kids?

You may think that music therapy relies solely on learning to play an instrument, but that is not it at all. Music therapy is not instruction in music. Instead, a music therapist will use a lot of different tools, knowledge and creativity to create musical experiences where the autistic person feels comfortable, based on their needs.

Verbal Skills Not Required

One advantage to music therapy as an autism symptoms treatment is that it does not require any verbal ability. A person with autism can use a bell, bang on a piano, or shake some cymbals without needing to talk - and by doing this, they can begin to communicate with others through music. You might say that in some ways, music could be considered an ancient form of communication - perhaps one of our oldest forms.

Why is it that music therapy works so well with autistic people?

1. Music can capture, and help maintain, attention. It will motivate and engage a person to respond and participate.
2. Music is, in many ways, a universal language.
3. Music gives people with autism a way to express their emotions, and to be able to identify their emotions, in a way that they might not otherwise have had the ability to do.
4. Think of how many non-autistic people get pleasure from music. For many of the same reasons, it can be anxiety reducing for those with autism, too. Repeating the same music many times can create a sense of security and comfort in an office setting, which can make a person with autism feel more at ease and receptive to learning.

Some forms of autism symptoms treatment work better than others, but it is worth trying any that you think have merit and are able to do.

Hopefully, with early identification and early treatment, life can be a little easier for those with autism and the people who love them. For additional tips and suggestions that can help your loved one live a fulfilling and happy life visit the AmericanAutismSociety.org. There you can sign up for their FREE newsletter with tips and info on autism.

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