Abstract:
Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of Music Therapy (MT) along with Play Therapy (PT) on increasing appropriate Social Behaviors (SBs) and decreasing inappropriate stereotyped behaviors of children with autism.
Methods: This is an experimental study, and we used pre-test and post-test control group design to analyze the data. The study sample included 30 children with autism between the ages of 6 and 12 years who were randomly selected and assigned into experimental and control groups. To collect data, the Autism Assessment Quotient, Teacher Assessment of Social Behavior Questionnaire, and Gilliam’s Autism Rating Subscale were used. In this study, the experimental group underwent a total of 15 sessions of training with MT along with PT for a period of 7 weeks, whereas the control group did not receive such training.
Results: Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) showed that training with MT along with PT increased pro-social subscales (P=0.001) and decreased shyness/withdrawal subscales (P=0.001) and that stereotyped behaviors in children with autism decreased (P=0.01).
Conclusion: MT along with PT increased appropriate SBs and decreased inappropriate stereotyped behaviors of children with autism. Therefore, we can conclude that strengthening MT and PT skills should be considered one of the basic axes for professionals and educators in training and curing children with autism.
Machine summary:
"Research Paper: The Effect of Music Therapy Along With Play Therapy on Social Behaviors and Stereotyped Behaviors of Children With Autism CrossMark Abbas Ali Hossein Khanzadeh1*, Fahimeh Imankhah2 1.
Since stereotyped behaviors appear in the absence of social consequences, using auditory–vocal stimuli espe- cially music is effective as an automatic reinforcement for these children (Saylor, Sidener, Reeve, Fetherston, & Progar, 2012).
In addition to the aforemen- tioned strategy, compared to using only one method of treatment, the application of a mixture of music and play that includes playing, movement, and singing with mu- sic along with using a playing equipment increases eye contact and social interaction and decreases isolation, gaze aversion, and avoidance behaviors in children with ASD (Whipple, 2012).
Furthermore, playing games with children with autism decreases their stereotyped behav- 252 October 2017, Volume 5, Number 4 iors and other behavioral problems (Koegel, Firestone, Kramme, & Dunlap, 1974; Lang et al.
Considering the standardization that was conducted in the Gilliam’s diagnostic exam of autism guide (Ahmadi, Safari, Hemmatiyan, & Kalili, 2011), the grades of stan- dard subexams of around 6 or 7 indicated stereotyped behavior at a normal level.
The results of ANCOVA analysis of the differences of experimental and control group in stereotyped behaviors Source Sum of Squares df Mean of Squares F-Statistic Significance Level Effect Size Pre-test 1093.
Fam- ily centred music therapy to promote social engagement in young children with severe autism spectrum disorder: A ran- domized controlled study."