Autistic spectrum disorder and music therapy: theory underpinning practice

Abstract

The autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) has been and still is a major arena for practice in music therapy; arguably it is the client group with which music therapy has the highest reputation. Whether we talk about practice based evidence or evidence based practice, music therapy clinicians and researchers are nowadays more and more frequently required to provide theoretical and scientific evidence, which explains (or attempts to explain) not only how but also why music works as a therapeutic medium with this particular client group. Autistic individuals very often demonstrate a significant interest in music and its components: rhythm, pitch, harmony, or timbre; they seem to be more able to communicate through sound, whereas they tend to avoid other kinds of interaction, for instance tactile contact. In this paper the authors attempt to give possible explanations on why music can be such a unique tool for the treatment of the autistic individual. Theories from different fields, such as developmental psychology, neuropsychology, musicology, and psychotherapy have been put together in order to find a bridge between theory and practice. The paper underlines the necessity for workable theories which are tailored to the needs of music therapy practice. Suggestions for future theory building work on this particular client group are offered.