67029
document
Effects of a music therapy group intervention on enhancing social skills in children with autism . BACKGROUND Research indicates that music therapy can improve social behaviors and joint attention in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder ( ASD ) ; however , more research on the use of music therapy interventions for social skills is needed to determine the impact of group music therapy . OBJECTIVE To examine the effects of a music therapy group intervention on eye gaze , joint attention , and communication in children with ASD . METHOD Seventeen children , ages 6 to 9 , with a diagnosis of ASD were randomly assigned to the music therapy group ( MTG ) or the no-music social skills group ( SSG ) . Children participated in ten 50-minute group sessions over a period of 5 weeks . All group sessions were designed to target social skills . The Social Responsiveness Scale ( SRS ) , the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist ( ATEC ) , and video analysis of sessions were used to evaluate changes in social behavior . RESULTS There were significant between-group differences for joint attention with peers and eye gaze towards persons , with participants in the MTG demonstrating greater gains . There were no significant between-group differences for initiation of communication , response to communication , or social withdraw/behaviors . There was a significant interaction between time and group for SRS scores , with improvements for the MTG but not the SSG . Scores on the ATEC did not differ over time between the MTG and SSG . CONCLUSIONS The results of this study support further research on the use of music therapy group interventions for social skills in children with ASD . Statistical results demonstrate initial support for the use of music therapy social groups to develop joint attention .
67030
Intervention_Educational
music therapy group intervention
67031
Intervention_Educational
music therapy
67032
Intervention_Educational
music therapy
67033
Intervention_Educational
music therapy group ( MTG )
67034
Intervention_Educational
no-music social skills group ( SSG )
67035
Intervention_Control
.
67036
Intervention_Educational
MTG
67037
Outcome_Mental
social skills
67038
Outcome_Mental
social skills
67039
Outcome_Physical
eye gaze
67040
Outcome_Mental
, joint attention , and communication
67041
Outcome_Other
Social Responsiveness Scale ( SRS ) , the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist ( ATEC ) , and video analysis of sessions
67042
Outcome_Mental
joint attention with peers and
67043
Outcome_Physical
eye gaze
67044
Outcome_Mental
towards persons
67045
Outcome_Mental
initiation of communication
67046
Outcome_Other
,
67047
Outcome_Mental
response to communication
67048
Outcome_Other
, or
67049
Outcome_Mental
social withdraw/behaviors
67050
Outcome_Other
.
67051
Outcome_Other
SRS scores
67052
Outcome_Other
Scores on the ATEC
67053
Outcome_Mental
social skills
67054
Outcome_Mental
joint attention
67055
Outcome_Physical
.
67056
Participant_Age
children
67057
Participant_Condition
autism
67058
Participant_Age
children
67059
Participant_Condition
Autism Spectrum Disorder ( ASD )
67060
Participant_Age
children
67061
Participant_Condition
ASD
67062
Participant_Sample-size
Seventeen
67063
Participant_Age
children , ages 6 to 9
67064
Participant_Age
children
67065
Participant_Condition
ASD