Music therapy for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders : A literature review
Type de matériel :
18
The last official evidence-based practices for youths with ASD published by the French Ministry of Health in 2012 did not recommend the use of music therapy (MT). Since the 1950s, a vast scientific literature has been published regarding the use of MT with people with ASD, but its effects have only been systematically studied in the last two decades. We aimed at reviewing the literature on MT for children and adolescents with ASD written since the 1950s, with a particular focus on the studies using controlled procedures published between 2006 and 2021. Analysis of the literature shows that, compared to placebo therapy or other therapy, MT is likely to have beneficial effects on social communication and interactions, which constitute the core symptoms of ASD, but also on secondary outcomes such as mood, behavioral initiative, and child-parent interactions. Most of these studies have low to moderate levels of evidence; only one study supporting MT and using clinical and functional brain connectivity measures has a high level of evidence. Altogether, these levels of evidence are higher than those of all the other therapeutic interventions in ASD, and similar to those of aripiprazole, but without the side effects of medication. Several randomized and controlled studies, among which a couple involved large numbers of children, do not support MT’s effectiveness. However, these latter studies present some methodological bias. This review could contribute to bridging the gap between science and practice in the field of MT in the ASD population, in France and elsewhere. Qualitative and quantitative studies should be further conducted, however MT should already be considered as an alternative and augmentative communicative method which can alleviate socio-emotional and behavioral disorders in children and adolescents with ASD. We believe that future recommendations for good professional practice should include MT as an intervention strategy for this population. In our opinion, evidence-based practices should include the use of MT for children with ASD in the future.
Réseaux sociaux