The Effectiveness of Music Therapy in Improving Communication Behavior in Autistic Children

Abstract

This research aims to determine the effectiveness of music therapy in improving the communication behavior of autistic children in order to demonstrate the necessity of developing special musical programs to know the effect of music in improving the communication behavior of children with autism. The lack of communication skills in children with autism may be the strongest reason for the occurrence of Disorder, unhappiness, and lack of understanding of oneself or others. The inability to communicate is a major cause of isolation, refusal to interact with others, and loneliness, which may lead to depression.

Lack of communication may lead to weak family relationships, a lack of friends, and may lead to the individual feeling frustrated, depressed, and perhaps helpless. Autistic children need occupational therapy, speech therapy, group play training, etc., they also need music therapy to improve their communication skills. The goal of all these treatments is to bring the autistic child to the point where he can adapt to his condition and communicate better

 With others

, teach him something that he can practice in the future.

The researcher noticed a lack of interest in music programs for children with autism research on behavioral disorder (autism) and its symptoms, and after multiple visits to a number of centers concerned with this disease inside and outside Jordan.

The researcher noted that centers outside Jordan use music to treat and entertain children, while music and musical programs are a little in Jordan. Which prompted the researcher to conduct this study by using music as therapeutic classes for autistic children in order to identify the effectiveness of music therapy in improving communication behavior among autistic children. Find out how music classes affect children's behavior

And learn the opinions of teachers and educators of Autistic children

By distributing a number of questionnaires and conducting statistical analysis

At the end of the research, the researcher concluded a set of conclusions and recommendations, the most important of which are:

• Music helps children with autism improve their mood
• Music helps children with autism disorder communicate better with everyone around them, whether children, teachers or educators.

·       Music always makes children with autism feel comfortable, refreshed and active

Music that includes rhythmic instruments trains the ear to hear the correct rhythm, which gives the child internal balance and organization of his thoughts and thus affects his personality

It was shown through this research that there is an effect of music therapy programs in improving the communication behavior of autistic children

Keywords:  Autism Spectrum Disorder, Verbal communications, Music Therapy, Training Program