Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refers to a range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication (1). An estimated 1 in 44 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder according to estimates from CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network (2).
Music therapy has emerged as a popular intervention for autism in recent years. But does listening to music truly help autistic individuals? Here we review the evidence on the impact of music listening on behaviors and skills in autism.
How music affects the autistic brain
Research suggests that music impacts the brain differently in autistic individuals compared to neurotypical controls. Some key findings:
– Enhanced pitch perception – Autistic individuals excel at processing details in music like pitch and rhythm (3). Their superior pitch perception likely stems from enhanced sound processing in the auditory cortex (4).
– Altered musical reward responses – fMRI studies find that music activates the brain’s reward centers differently in autistic versus neurotypical participants. Autistic individuals show reduced reward responses to pleasant music in regions like the nucleus accumbens and amygdala (5).
– Atypical connectivity – Functional connectivity MRI reveals weaker coordination between auditory and socio-emotional brain regions during music listening in autism (6). Reduced functional connectivity in these networks may impact socio-emotional skills.
– Distinct neural synchronization – EEG studies find less synchronized neural responses to musical rhythms in autistic listeners compared to controls (7). Reduced neural synchronization could affect timing skills.
In summary, autistic individuals perceive music in intricate detail but find it less emotionally rewarding and process it differently across distributed brain networks. Understanding these neurobiological differences is key for harnessing music to improve autistic behaviors and skills.
Effects of music listening on autistic behaviors
A growing body of research has explored how music listening impacts autistic behaviors like repetitive motions, agitation, and self-injury. Key findings include:
Reducing repetitive and restrictive behaviors
Multiple studies find that background music reduces repetitive behaviors like hand flapping, rocking, pacing, and self-stimulation in autistic children and adults (8–10). For example, one study found a 37% drop in repetitive behaviors when autistic youth listened to calm, familiar music versus silence (10). Music’s patterned sounds may provide an alternative focus that suppuresses restrictive motions.
Lessening agitation and anxiety
Soothing, familiar music has been shown to decrease agitation in autistic individuals. In one study, autistic youth with severe anxiety showed less agitation and faster heart rate stabilization when listening to personalized relaxing music (11). In autistic adults, individualized music reduced agitation during dental treatments (12). Music may decrease anxiety by lowering physiological arousal.
Decreasing self-injurious behaviors
Multiple studies indicate that preferred, calming music can reduce self-injurious behaviors like head hitting, hand biting, and excessive scratching in low-functioning autistic youth and adults (13–15). By providing competing sensory input, music may divert attention from triggers for self-injury.
Improving sleep
Sleep disturbances are common in autistic individuals. Bedtime music has been found to improve sleep quality and duration in autistic children, with benefits for daytime behavior and mood (16–17). Music may aid sleep by reducing anxiety and settling the nervous system.
In summary, research indicates calming background music can decrease repetitive, anxious, self-injurious, and sleep-disruptive behaviors in autism. Music may work by regulating arousal, focusing attention, and providing stabilizing sensory input.
Effects of music on autistic social and communication skills
Music therapy also aims to build social, emotional, and communication capacities in individuals with autism. Research suggests music listening can support gains in these core skill areas:
Enhancing social motivation
Music is highly reinforcing and motivating for many autistic individuals. Studies have leveraged children’s innate joy of music to increase social focus and engagement. When therapists pair music with social cues and interactions, autistic children demonstrate more eye contact, joint attention, and turn-taking (18–19). Music helps pique, sustain, and reward social attention.
Improving nonverbal communication
Music provides a conduit for nonverbal expression like gestures and body language. Autistic youth who participated in music classes showed significant gains in nonverbal communication skills, including greater use of gesture, imitation, and joint attention (20–21). Moving to music facilitates nonverbal exchange.
Supporting language development
Song-based interventions like melodic intonation therapy utilize music’s rhythmic patterns to harness and strengthen speech production skills. These programs have led to improvements in vocal ability, vocabulary, and phrase building in both nonverbal and verbally-fluent autistic children (22–24). Music taps into preserved auditory skills.
Enhancing emotional understanding
Recognizing emotions in others is challenging for autistic individuals. Music therapy appears to aid in identifying feelings – autistic youth who engaged in song-based emotional sharing improved their ability to recognize happiness, sadness, and anger (25). Musical cues help signal emotional states.
Building joint attention skills
Joint attention involves coordinating focus between a social partner and an object/event. This critical skill is impaired in autism. However, music provides a platform for practicing joint attention – when music therapists incorporate toys, instruments, or gestures into songs, autistic children show increased instances of shared gaze and interest (26). Musical activities scaffold attention sharing.
In summary, music listening can assist autistic individuals in using nonverbal cues, understanding emotions, interacting socially, and sharing focus – strengthening core communication and social capacities.
Key recommendations for using music in autism
If considering using music listening to help address autistic behaviors and deficits, some tips include:
– Stick with simple, familiar music without lyrics at first
– Observe responses to identify preferred, calming music for each individual
– Use music strategically before challenging situations to reduce anxiety
– Pair background music with social interactions and routines to reinforce skills
– Gradually shape listening from passive to active participation on instruments
– Collaborate with a music therapist to tailor music interventions
Music should always be used judiciously in autism – hypersensitivities to sounds are common. But with proper guidance, music listening can be a helpful supplementary tool for supporting autistic growth and learning.
Conclusion
Current evidence indicates that music listening can:
– Reduce restrictive, self-injurious, and other challenging behaviors
– Lessen anxiety and enhance sleep
– Motivate and reinforce social communication skills
– Provide a platform for nonverbal expression and sharing
– Strengthen autistic capacities like joint attention and emotion recognition
However, individual responses vary based on musical preferences, sensitivities, and hearing abilities. Careful observation is needed when first introducing music. Ideally, a certified music therapist would tailor the intervention approach.
Overall, music listening emerges as a promising complementary strategy for managing autistic behaviors and addressing skill deficits. But more research is still needed on optimal music selection, underlying neural mechanisms, and long-term outcomes. Going forward, integrating music thoughtfully into educational, therapeutic, and home programs could provide much-needed support to autistic individuals and families. The soothing, patterned sounds of music may help calm the chaos of autism.