A professional who specializes in autism can suggest distinct treatment for autistic’s that can experience a ample insured effect on their behavior. One this service is Music therapy. Music therapy is a controlled music experience that is used to facilitate positive change in human behavior.

Each session of music therapy is carefully planned, carried out, and evaluated to suit the specific needs of each patient. Music therapy can include any of the following musical activities: • Listening to music and/or musical creation • Playing musical instruments (any instrument can be used) • Moving to music • Singing As far as autism is concerned, studies have shown that music therapy has a significant, positive influence when used to treat autistic individuals. Participating in music therapy allows autistics the opportunity to experience non-threatening outside stimulation, as they don’t engage in direct human contact.

As was previously mentioned, music therapy is made specific to each individual. This is extremely important, because what may be positively received by one autistic may be negative to another. That being said, let’s take a look at the positive influence music therapy has had on autistic individuals.

Music therapy – Improved socio-emotional development: In the first steps of a relationship, autistics tend to physically ignore or reject the attempts of social contact made by others. Music therapy helps to stop this social withdrawal by an initial object relation with a musical instrument. Instead of seeing the instrument as threatening, autistic children are usually fascinated by the shape, feel and sound of it. Therefore, the musical instrument provides an initial point of contact between the autistic and the other individual by acting as an intermediary.

Assisted in both verbal and non-verbal communication – When music therapy is used to aid in communication, its goal is to improve the production of vocalization and speech, as well as stimulate the mental process of comprehending, conceptualizing and symbolizing.

A music therapist will attempt to establish a communicative relationship between the behavior of a child with autism and a specific sound. An autistic person may have an easier time recognizing or being more open to these sounds than they would to a verbal approach. This musical awareness, and the relationship between the autistics’ actions and the music, has potential to encourage communication. Music Therapy Autism

Another form of music therapy that may help with communication is to play a wind instrument (IE flute). It is thought that by playing such an instrument, you become aware of the functioning of your teeth, jaws, lips and tongue. Thus, playing a wind instrument almost mirrors the functioning required in order to produce speech vocalizations. Encouraged emotional fulfillment – Most autistics lack the ability to affectively respond to stimuli that would otherwise allow them to enjoy an appropriate emotional charge.

Thus, since most autistics respond well to music stimuli, music therapy has been able to provide autistics with an environment that is free of fear, stimuli considered threatening, etc. During a music therapy session, an autistic individual has the freedom to behave in specific ways that allow them to discover and express themselves when they want and choose.

They can make noise, bang instruments, shout and express and experience the pleasure of emotional satisfaction. Musical therapy has also helped autistic individuals by: • Teaching social skills • Improving language comprehension • Encouraging the desire to communicate • Making creative-self expression possible • Reducing non-communicative speech • Decreasing echolalia (uncontrolled and instant repetition of the words spoken by another)

Keep in mind that although music therapy can have positive effects on autistic individuals, it is vital that an autistic receives such treatment from a trained and experienced musical therapist. Don’t let your child suffer anymore! Lead your child out of his world through Music Therapy Autism program now!

Article source:

http://www.articlesbase.com/mental-health-articles/music-therapy-autism-the-benefits-of-music-therapy-for-autism-1484991.html

2011_Conference_flyer Music Therapy In Canada

In Tune With The Brain Click to Listen

Assoc Prof Denise Grocke

Duration: 21 min 45 sec
Format: MP3

Our guest for this episode is Associate Professor Denise Grocke, Associate Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Music and Head of Music Therapy.

“I think of music therapy as being one of the creative arts therapies. It!|s the use of music to achieve therapeutic aims with people of all ages who have needs relative to illness or disability.” – Associate Professor Denise Grocke

Useful links

Associate Professor Grocke’s recent books:

Receptive Methods in Music Therapy
ISBN: 184310413X
Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Publication Date: 15 January 2007
Pages: 288 pages
Buy from the Melbourne University Bookshop
Buy from Amazon

Guided Imagery and Music: The Bonny Method and Beyond
ISBN: 1891278126
Publisher: Barcelona Publishers
Publication Date: July 2002
Pages: 640 pages
Buy from the Melbourne University Bookshop
Buy from Amazon

Faculty of Music web site

Associate Professor Grocke’s page at the Faculty of Music

National Music Therapy Research Unit web site

Associate Professor Grocke’s articles in Voices : A World Forum for Music Therapy

Associate Professor Grocke’s PhD dissertation in Music Therapy World

Credits

Host: Jacky Angus
Producers: Kelvin Param and Eric Van Bemmel
Audio Engineer: Miles Brown
Theme Music performed by Sergio Ercole. Mr Ercole is represented by the Musicians’ Agency, Faculty of Music
Voiceover: Paul Richiardi

Series Creators: Eric Van Bemmel and Kelvin Param

Melbourne University Up Close is brought to you by the Marketing and Communications Division in association with Asia Institute, and the Melbourne Research Office.

© The University of Melbourne, 2006. All Rights Reserved.

Research has shown that music has a profound effect on your body and psyche. In fact, there’s a growing field of health care known as Music Therapy, which uses music to heal. Those who practice music therapy are finding a benefit in using music to help cancer patients, children with ADD, and others, and even hospitals are beginning to use music and music therapy to help with pain management, to help ward off depression, to promote movement, to calm patients, to ease muscle tension, and for many other benefits that music and music therapy can bring. This is not surprising, as music affects the body and mind in many powerful ways. The following are some of effects of music, which help to explain the effectiveness of music therapy:

• Brain Waves: Research has shown that music with a strong beat can stimulate brainwaves to resonate in sync with the beat, with faster beats bringing sharper concentration and more alert thinking, and a slower tempo promoting a calm, meditative state. Also, research has found that the change in brainwave activity levels that music can bring can also enable the brain to shift speeds more easily on its own as needed, which means that music can bring lasting benefits to your state of mind, even after you’ve stopped listening.
• Breathing and Heart Rate: With alterations in brainwaves comes changes in other bodily functions. Those governed by the autonomic nervous system, such as breathing and heart rate can also be altered by the changes music can bring. This can mean slower breathing, slower heart rate, and an activation of the relaxation response, among other things. This is why music and music therapy can help counteract or prevent the damaging effects of chronic stress, greatly promoting not only relaxation, but health.
• State of Mind: Music can also be used to bring a more positive state of mind, helping to keep depression and anxiety at bay. This can help prevent the stress response from wreaking havoc on the body, and can help keep creativity and optimism levels higher, bringing many other benefits.
• Other Benefits: Music has also been found to bring many other benefits, such as lowering blood pressure (which can also reduce the risk of stroke and other health problems over time), boost immunity, ease muscle tension, and more. With so many benefits and such profound physical effects, it’s no surprise that so many are seeing music as an important tool to help the body in staying (or becoming) healthy.

Using Music Therapy:
With all these benefits that music can carry, it’s no surprise that music therapy is growing in popularity. For more information on music therapy.

Using Music On Your Own:
While music therapy is an important discipline, you can also achieve benefits from music on your own. This article on music, relaxation and stress management can explain more of how music can be an especially effective tool for stress management, and can be used in dailly life.