Sound-Based Intervention Essay

Specific data in regards to the individual’s social development and behaviour is collected. Inquiries about core ASD symptoms including, unusual, or repetitive behaviours and social relatedness are done, the family’s input is important.

Sensory-processing problems are often one of the primary focuses of occupational therapists when treating individuals with ASD. This is because of the high frequency in which sensory processing problems occur within individuals

Music being a lifeline for individuals with all types of isolating emotional, physical, neurological and psychological conditions, has incredible effect to the autistic children. It enables the autistic children to interact and communicate to others and have improved learning

ASD is an abbreviation of Autism Spectrum Disorder, a disorder characterized by “social-interaction difficulties, communication challenges and a tendency to engage in repetitive behaviors”. ASD has become so prevalent that “1 in 68 children are identified with ASD” a number which is higher among certain racial minorities (CDC Press Release). While there are many therapies such as pharmaceutical or behavior correcting therapy, it is music which shows much promise in aiding children with autism. From its start in prehistoric humans to today’s clinical and classroom settings music has had a profound impact on the individual; well documented studies and

From 1997 to about 2007 the number of children with autism spectrum disorder has increase from 42,517 to about 258,305 and has risen since (Reschke-Hernández, 2011). With this rise of children who have autism, the rise of music therapy has since appeared greatly. When music therapy was first documented, the music was used in both group and individual settings. It was used with those who lacked social skills, those who needed rehabilitation, for self-expression, for psychological improvement and also recreational purposes (Rescheke- Hernández, 2011). Music therapist use techniques such as improvisation music therapy, dancing and singing, speech dynamics, and rhythm to help clients with social skills, body awareness and communication skills (Rescheke- Hernández, 2011). Children who are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder can be treated through music therapy to enhance their social skills, learning skills, and coordination.

ABA is based on principles of behavioral therapy and is one of the most effective interventions for children that have autism. According to Healy, O'Connor, Leader, and Kenny (2008), early intensive behavioral intervention was effective with preschool children that had autism because they reported high achievements in normative functioning, which was measured under practical outcomes and standard psychological methods. The study also concludes that since Applied Behavior Analysis is a treatment, it can fabricate systematic, substantial and durable effects under particular conditions. This study provided an example where 40% to 60 % children before reaching five who had two years and ten months treatment improved well enough that they were ready to be enrolled in public schools. The research shows that Applied Behavior Analysis is effective with children that have autism, but there are many other effective interventions that can be integrated with ABA. For example Lim and Draper (2011) incorporated music with Applied Behavioral Analysis and found that both of music and ABA were effective and there was no significant differences in between them. Moreover, results specifically indicated that music was as important as speech training to form functional verbal operants in children that have autism. The results also stated that when music is paired with ABA, musical stimuli could enhance verbal production in children with autism. In

Kinnealey, M., Pfeiffer, B., Miller, J., Roan, C., Shoener, R., & Ellner, M. L. (2012). Effect of classroom modification on attention and engagement of students with autism or dyspraxia. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 66(5), 511-519. This study relates to environmental modification of classrooms to support students with autism or dyspraxia who have differing sensory needs. This small sample study of 4 students showed decline in non-attending behavior. This article is relevant to research as this highlights an aspect of OT in advocating for an universal design for learning to include sound absorbing structures and different lighting to help regulate the sensory system of

Autism spectrum disorder is an umbrella term used in diagnosing a collection of developmental disorders of the brain that vary in severity1. People with ASD may have trouble with social interactions, problems with different types of communication, may practice repetitive actions or behaviors1,2, struggle with paying attention, and suffer from motor disfunctions1. ASD is usually diagnosed in children between the ages of 2 and 3, this early diagnosis is very beneficial because it leads to intervention which intern leads to more positive outcomes later in life1. ASD affects 1 in every 68 American children1 and is 4-5 times more common in boys than girls1. Prevalence of this disease is on the rise, with a 10-17% increases in cases per-year1, which could be due to improved diagnostic methods, environmental factors, and other reasons that are unknown1. One well established diagnostic tool is the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) which is 15-point rating scale3 used to diagnose children with ASD and determine its severity2. Another less accredited, but still informative diagnostic tool is the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC)2 which differs from the CARS because it is a parent rater form of measurment2. ASD has no cure, but there have been studies that show behavioral outbursts can be reduced with the use of certain movements and breathing techniques4. This encourages confidence that more aspects of ASD can be improved with similar methods.

Lane, Young, Baker, and Angley (2010) examined sensory processing with 54 children with autism and the connection to sensory processing associated with adaptive behavior. Three distinct sensory processing (SP) subtypes were found as a result such as sensory modulation with taste/smell sensitivity, sensory-based inattentive seeking, and sensory modulation with movement sensitivity. This study was conducted using a questionnaire given to the parents called a Short Sensory profile. This looked at all 7 sensory areas such as tactile, taste/smell, movement and visual/auditory sensitivity, under responsive, auditory filtering, and low energy (Lane, Young, Baker, & Angley, 2010). The Vinland Adaptive behavior scales was used to interview the child's parents in order to assess the child's adaptive behavior skills. The result further provided evidence that children with ASD do experience more differences in SP than their peers. It resulted in high levels of sensory domains in auditory filtering, taste/smell sensitivity and low energy. It also showed a correlation that individuals with sensory modulation with taste/smell sensitivity have significantly greater communication

Children with ASD appear to experience sensory problems, leading to high pain tolerance and auditory hypersensitivity. They also may present “sensory seeking behaviors,” where they will crash, squeeze, spin, or flap (Solomon & Chung, 2012). Other than the symptom categories that may be checked off in the DSM-V, these children may also have food allergies, immune system dysregulation, sleep disturbances, and seizures. According to the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network, ASD’s prevalence in 2010 was 14.7%, with about 1 in 68 children being identified with ASD (CDC, 2014). While ASD has been reported to occur within all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups, it is almost 5 times more common in boys (1 in 42) than among girls (1 in 189) (CDC, 2014). Autism can be detected at 18 months old or younger but by age 2, a diagnosis of ASD is considered to be very reliable. However, many children are not fortunate enough to receive an early-diagnosis or their correct final diagnosis until they are much older than 2 years old, which then delays them from receiving the help they need.

This article defines music therapy and how it makes an impact for individuals with diagnoses on the autism spectrum. It also explains the job of the therapist and how they work with their clients.

1 in 68 births in the United States will result in a child with autism. According to the Autism Society of America, it is reported as the fastest-growing disability, reaching epidemic proportions at a rate of 10-17 percent per year. Most parents recognize the signs and symptoms of autism anytime between birth and the first three years of their child’s life. Autism is classified as a neurological disorder and it affects the normal development of a child’s brain. Autism is not just one disorder, but a group of related disorders with a shared set of symptoms. All children on the autism spectrum have three major challenges; they are with social skills ab nd behavior, communication and cognition. Autism can be identified by a certain set of behaviors, but children can have any combination of the behaviors at any degree of severity. In fact, when it comes to their behaviors and abilities, no two kids with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are the same; each child has their own unique capabilities, symptoms, and challenges. There are many different treatments and medications used to remedy and lessen the symptoms of autism. They include different types of therapies and training, special diets, vitamin supplements, as well as, complementary and alternative medicines. Music therapy is the most effective treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder. Of all the therapies associated with autism, none achieve more positive results. No other type of treatment helps children to

After a complete audiologic evaluation, the child was diagnosed with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) and central auditory processing disorder (CAPD; Iliadou et al., 2015). Case two was an 8-year, 10-month-old girl who was diagnosed with SSD after receiving speech therapy for two consecutive months and obtaining slow progress (despite what the mother felt). After completing a diagnostic hearing evaluation, the girl presented with a slight-to-mild hearing loss bilaterally, impaired cochlear involvement, and CAPD (Iliadou et al., 2015). The final case analyzed was a 4-year, 5-month-old girl who was receiving speech therapy for SSD and was not making the expected gains after four months of therapy. The parents reported their daughter did not speak in sentences until she was 3-years-old, but had an otherwise unremarkable medical history. The audiologic evaluation determined she had CAPD (although the actual diagnosis is not given to children until after the age of 7 years), cochlear dysfunction, and middle ear dysfunction (even after bilateral pressure equalizing [PE] tubes were inserted; Iliadou et al., 2015). While the definition of SSD describes the absence of acquired disorders (such as hearing losses, CAPD,

Physical sensitivity can be a typical problem for children with Asperger's Syndrome with data suggesting that about 40% of Asperger's children experience with some sensitivity. The most common sensitivities are with the feelings of sound and touch, though hypersensitivity is also noted in the value of taste, odor, light intensity, and color.

Stockton University, in partnership with Global Sound Bath, organized an event to celebrate health and wellness. The morning session of the day-long Wellness Day event, titled “Good Vibrations: Health & Healing through Sound & Music”, focused on a unique concept that uses sound therapy as a meditative and holistic approach to overall wellness. When I first walked into the auditorium, where simple instruments lined the stage, I was unsure of what to expect. As I found a seat, I was given a survey – one part to be filled out then and the other to be completed after the session. The two questions in the survey included how stressed are you and how much do you know about the techniques of sound therapy. For me, I was slightly stressed out and only knew the basics of music therapy and how it could be used. Therefore, I was open minded and decided that I could use time