Anecdotal evidence supports music‘s ability to help autistic children improve their social skills and increase engagement in activities outside their usual environment. Furthermore, previous randomized controlled trials have revealed that interventions utilizing musical themes produce significant behavioral improvements for autistic individuals.
Researchers have also reported that certain musical stimuli can enhance empathy; however, its exact mechanisms remain unknown. Music therapy appears to alter resting-state brain functional connectivity patterns known to be overconnected in autism.
Improved communication
Autistic individuals typically enjoy music for much more than simple enjoyment – it is an integral part of their lives, used to manage behaviors and regulate sensory input – often acting as their safe haven from an often hostile world.
Musical engagement is an accessible form of expression that can bridge gaps in verbal and nonverbal forms of communication by communicating through sound, as well as helping develop skillsets like sequencing. Indeed, studies suggest that playing music may actually aid with improving speech and social interactions for those with autism by understanding others’ emotions more readily and decreasing stress responses.
Hillier et al. conducted research that demonstrated how music impacts on brain activity; their study demonstrated how children who participate in music therapy exhibit increased synchronization between frontal and temporal areas of their brain, aiding cognitive and motor development as well as emotions regulation – this finding has also been demonstrated in studies on its effects on autism.
As technology constantly develops and advances, engineers and clinicians should carefully consider its future implications to ensure that it fits within a therapeutic framework. To encourage user engagement with technology for longer, engaging sounds or instruments may be used, or virtual and augmented reality may be employed.
Though it may seem counterintuitive, research has demonstrated that new technologies in music and autism can yield remarkable benefits. The key is using it as an intervention tailored to an individual’s specific needs and designed by experts in both fields – not only will this increase effectiveness of therapy sessions but will help lower risks associated with new complications or harm. Now is an exciting time for electronic music applications within autism communities!
Social skills development
Singing musical instruments has long been recognized for fostering socialisation and emotional responsiveness while simultaneously stimulating brain development and rewiring existing neural connections, providing particular benefit for people with autism who often have difficulty connecting socially or motor skills are limited. One study in Journal of Music Therapy concluded that children who participated in sound-based intervention programs experienced significantly fewer meltdowns and greater social responses compared to those without such interventions.
Given their shared background and many autistic individuals’ remarkable musical behaviors, autism and electronic music seem an unlikely pairing. Leo Kanner first identified an abnormal sensitivity among autistic children to musical stimuli in 1943 and subsequent research has demonstrated they possess superior pitch discrimination skills as well as memory for melodies.
Studies have also suggested that autistic individuals may be better at comprehending and processing music’s structure than their neurotypical counterparts, allowing them to appreciate what’s happening in a piece. A 2018 book written by ethnomusicology professor Michael Bakan illustrates this very point, detailing interviews with 10 autistic individuals regarding its significance in their lives.
Autism may often be cast with negative connotations; however, its neurological differences can often foster unique, individual styles of thinking and produce exceptional creative works. One such creative work by Gary Numan embodies this. For instance, his iconic electronic musician Gary Numan embraced autistic stereotypes to great effect in both his music and image; adopting cold alien-like persona and appearing on stage wearing somber clothing was quite contrary to how rock stars at that time were often portrayed with giant egos and fondness for underage girls!
Percussion Play’s community-based inclusive playgrounds create the ideal conditions to promote better social engagement for children with autism, as evidenced by studies indicating musical interaction is particularly helpful to 3-5 year olds with autism. Such interactions allow these individuals to express themselves non-verbally with family members in an atmosphere free of stress-inducing talking therapies that may otherwise cause excessive responses from them.
Self-expression
Electronic music can play an essential role in supporting emotional wellness by encouraging self-expression. Self-expression occurs when we convey our thoughts and emotions through actions or speech; it allows us to connect with others more easily while building relationships and relieving stress. Self-expression also serves as an outlet to express ourselves fully and develop beliefs.
People with autism often struggle to express themselves effectively. With proper support, however, they can learn how to more efficiently express themselves – including how to use body language and facial expressions to communicate thoughts and emotions more efficiently. With practice comes improvement – you won’t know it until it comes time for an interview!
One effective way to boost your self-expression is to hone in on your values. Your values act as the guideposts for who you are, so it’s crucial that they remain constant as this ensures authenticity and self-assurance within yourself and those around you. However, keep in mind that values may change as time progresses – so keep this in mind too.
Electronic music’s birth coincided with Romanticism’s nineteenth-century surge, which focused on emotion rather than logic and pure reason. Artists like Gary Numan who helped popularize electronic music took full advantage of Romanticism to embrace autistic stereotypes through his music and image; wearing dark clothing onstage while portraying himself like an alien was widely criticised by music press due to such behavior being associated with Blackpool Tower-sized rock stars who indulged in sexual encounters with underage girls.
No wonder music therapy holds a special place in many neurodivergent people’s hearts! Research indicates musical engagement as being an excellent means to improve the quality of life for children with autism, providing them with relaxation techniques that aid their physical comfort while aiding socialization which can often be challenging for these kids. A recent study demonstrated when exposed to music therapy sessions children showed increased engagement in social activities.
Motor skills development
Autism is a complex neurological condition, manifesting itself on a continuum. Some individuals with autism can manage well in life while others find engaging in activities and social interactions difficult. According to studies conducted so far, music technology may assist children with autism in improving motor skill development by providing sensory experiences which allow them to focus and concentrate more easily resulting in increased motor coordination as well as musical engagement that promotes learning, creativity and relaxation.
Recent research conducted with children with autism who participated in an immersive music intervention showed improved auditory processing and verbal communication abilities, decreased challenging behavior as measured by BPI ratings, behavior observation analyses and assistant reports; furthermore using iPad apps with intuitive designs allowed for independent gameplay and allowed them creative freedom while learning and exploring music.
Musical engagement can also reduce sensory overload. It can increase functional connectivity between the primary auditory cortex, subcortical regions and motor regions in your brain, instill rhythm into your life and promote coordination – effects which ripple throughout life from perception and cognition, emotional expression/regulation/regulation, physical growth/health as well as adapting to changes.
One study demonstrated that people with autism who played drum kits outperformed their neurotypical peers in tests designed to measure pitch discrimination and musical memory. Furthermore, a randomized controlled trial demonstrated how rhythm training improved receptive labelling abilities as it allowed children with autism to respond quickly to stimuli from their environment while being highly engaging activity.
Music provides autistics an outlet to express themselves and form meaningful connections with other humans in an increasingly hostile environment, while simultaneously garnering acceptance and admiration from society as a whole. Gary Numan, for instance, who has adopted autistic stereotypes into his music and image is an instructive example.