The Basics
According to the latest data published by the CDC, 1 in 88 children in the United States is affected by an autism spectrum
disorder (ASD), which is about 1 million children and teens (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012). According to the CDC, NJ has an ASD prevalence rate of 1 in 49 children, which is the worst rate among the states studied (2012); a prevalence that has doubled in six years. If there are so many being diagnosed, then there needs to be resources for them to be treated and one of the available resources is music therapy, which is not yet as main stream as applied behavioral analysis, medication, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. Music therapy addresses all the developmental skills that are affected by Autistic Spectrum Disorders.
There are about 70 AMTA-approved music therapy degree programs in the United States; each with an average class size of 20 (American Music Therapy Association, 2011). To become certified in music therapy, a candidate must become proficient in guitar, piano, voice, music theory, music history, reading music, improvisation, varying levels of skill assessment, documentation, and health care skills and counseling. In addition, they must complete the accredited program and pass a board certification exam in music therapy. In 2007, the number of children ages 6-21 receiving services for ASD was 258,305 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012). There is obvious need for effective treatment and intervention as it seems that the number of children being diagnosed with ASDs is increasing. The CDC website does list music therapy as an option for treatment for autistic children; however it does not go in depth as it does for other options such as applied behavior analysis, occupational therapy, diet, and medication (2010).
Music therapy is a non-invasive intervention that has been shown to be effective and beneficial in the treatment of Autism and ASDs in developing communication, socialization, and behavioral skills. There is ongoing research being done to be able to support this therapy
as evidence-based and to form universal protocols for therapy. The main goal of the website is to increase awareness of Music therapy as a treatment for ASDs in order to make the treatment more widely accepted and accessible to those patients and families who can benefit from it.
disorder (ASD), which is about 1 million children and teens (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012). According to the CDC, NJ has an ASD prevalence rate of 1 in 49 children, which is the worst rate among the states studied (2012); a prevalence that has doubled in six years. If there are so many being diagnosed, then there needs to be resources for them to be treated and one of the available resources is music therapy, which is not yet as main stream as applied behavioral analysis, medication, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. Music therapy addresses all the developmental skills that are affected by Autistic Spectrum Disorders.
There are about 70 AMTA-approved music therapy degree programs in the United States; each with an average class size of 20 (American Music Therapy Association, 2011). To become certified in music therapy, a candidate must become proficient in guitar, piano, voice, music theory, music history, reading music, improvisation, varying levels of skill assessment, documentation, and health care skills and counseling. In addition, they must complete the accredited program and pass a board certification exam in music therapy. In 2007, the number of children ages 6-21 receiving services for ASD was 258,305 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012). There is obvious need for effective treatment and intervention as it seems that the number of children being diagnosed with ASDs is increasing. The CDC website does list music therapy as an option for treatment for autistic children; however it does not go in depth as it does for other options such as applied behavior analysis, occupational therapy, diet, and medication (2010).
Music therapy is a non-invasive intervention that has been shown to be effective and beneficial in the treatment of Autism and ASDs in developing communication, socialization, and behavioral skills. There is ongoing research being done to be able to support this therapy
as evidence-based and to form universal protocols for therapy. The main goal of the website is to increase awareness of Music therapy as a treatment for ASDs in order to make the treatment more widely accepted and accessible to those patients and families who can benefit from it.