Music therapy has always been one way therapists use to help children with the autism spectrum disorder control their impulses, and improve their socialization, communication, and focus.
Now, new research adds to the information that beating out repetitive patterns in a drum set could also be beneficial to children with autism. The study talks about how drumming help improves the socialization and communication skills, as well as impulse control and focus of those with autism.
Music therapy has always been one of the ways therapists use to help children with the autism spectrum disorder control their impulses and improve their socialization, communication, and focus.
New research adds that beating out repetitive patterns in a drum set could also be beneficial to children with autism. The study talks about how drumming improves socialization and communication skills and impulse control and focus of those with autism.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by difficulties in social interactions and communication. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), those with ASD behave, communicate, interact, and learn differently from others.
Some may have advanced conversation skills, or they could also be nonverbal. Others may also need a lot of help in their daily lives, such as school and work.
Symptoms of ASD become more visible by age 3 and last throughout their lifespan. Some cases may also have improved symptoms over time. There are also cases when symptoms appear within the first 12 months of life, while there are also others where symptoms appear only until 24 months. That is when they stop gaining new skills or lose the ones they already learned.
Music Therapy For ASD
Since the 1950s and 1960s, music therapy has been used to improve the symptoms of ASD in children. Previous research shows that children with autism who have a strong interest in music sing differently and are quick to reproduce familiar musical sounds or pieces of music compared to those without ASD.
By the 2000s, music therapy had evolved, and now it is focused on improved socialization and communication skills. According to Philly Voice, studies have shown that repeated exposure to music therapy can improve emotional understanding among people with autism.
A 2021 study reveals that those who underwent music therapy demonstrated significant improvements in their understanding of emotions after listening to music that depicts happiness, sadness, anger, and fear.
Music therapy is traditionally divided into two categories. The first one is called receptive music therapy, which is based on listening. The second category is active therapy based on sound production, such as percussive movements or the use of musical instruments.
How Drumming Could Help Beat Autism Spectrum Disorder
The new study titled "The Effect of Learning to Drum on Behavior and Brain Function in Autistic Adolescents," published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows that drumming helps improve attention, impulse control, and thinking skills.
Lead author Marie-Stephanie Cahart, a doctoral candidate at King's College London, told U.S. News & World Report that drumming requires an emphasis on timing, hand-eye coordination, and monitoring and correcting mistakes.
To test how drumming helps teens with autism, they asked three dozen teens with ASD who had never used drums before to undergo two 45-minute sessions per week for eight weeks. Meanwhile, the control group did not receive any training.
All three dozen of them underwent brain scans and neuropsychological testing before the study, and the severity of symptoms was also assessed. At the end of the study, those who underwent training for playing drums had improved eye contact and could verbalize their needs and regulate their emotions, leading to better self-esteem and fewer angry outbursts.
Cahart also noted that those in the experimental group enjoyed learning the drum. In conclusion, the findings show that drumming activities are relevant in the context of autism spectrum disorder.
Check out more news and information on Autism Spectrum Disorder in Science Times.
