Authors' objectives:

This study aims to assess the effects of music therapy in children with autistic spectrum disorder.

Authors' recommendations: Children with autism may demonstrate slight improvements in speech and imitation during music therapy sessions, but the clinical importance of these changes may be negligible. The impact of music therapy on behaviour and social functioning is unclear, and the long-term effects are uncertain. Whether music therapy is better than other forms of behavioural therapy for children with autism is unclear. These conclusions are limited by the poor quality of the evidence, in particular the biased selection of the children, the small numbers involved, the contamination effect of the crossover design of many of the studies, the uncertain relevance of many of the outcome measures and the short followup. Without further research, no recommendation about the clinical effectiveness of music therapy for autism can be made.

Authors' methods: Review

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.wihrd.soton.ac.uk

Year Published: 2003

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: England

Organisation Name: Wessex Institute for Health Research and Development

Contact Address: Pauline King. Wessex Institute for Health Research and Development, Boldrewood Medical School, Bassett Crescent East, Highfield, Southampton. SO16 7PX Tel. +44 1703 595661 Fax +44 1703 595662

Copyright: Bazian Ltd, Wessex Institute for Health Research and Development