Autism is caused by disruptions in normal brain growth early in the development process. …show more content…
However, there are medications and therapies that can help some people with ASD function better. Research has proven that early intervention treatment services help children from birth to 3 years old learn important skills. These interventions include, auditory training, discrete trial training, vitamin therapy, anti -yeast therapy, facilitated communication, music therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy and sensory integration ( CDC, 2015). Many of the activities in musical therapy overlap and can help more than one area. For example, music can stimulate auditory skills through listening, behavioral issues and physical skills though dance. Therefore making this type of therapy one of the most effective for those with ASD. When looking at research supporting music therapy and how it can make a significant difference in the development of a person with ASD, it becomes very clear that most agree the music therapy is highly affective. Weekly music therapy sessions of 41 students for a ten month period showed a positive effect on behavior in children with autism. During these sessions of music and movement experts focused on addressing physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals of all ages ( UP, 2013). Another source of research based information from the American Music Therapy Association states the music therapy serves as an integral component in helping the child …show more content…
Their Individualized Education Plan (IEP) should include specific details for including these children in all music programs available to them. With the research showing music to be so highly effective the ASD student should have a plan richly filled with musical activities to aide in their education. While including music therapy into the plan for an ASD student, it is highly possible that the therapist may discover a student with ASD to also fall into the Savant Syndrome category. The Savant Syndrome defines a person with a mental disability but excels well beyond normal at a specific task, most often something in the Arts (DeWall, 2014). Matt Savage, an award winning jazz musician was diagnosed during early childhood with ASD. He struggled to communicate and an initial inability to tolerate sounds of any kind did not stop him from graduating from college and from release many albums. Therefore, it is important that music therapy in including into all stages of Cognitive Development. At each stage, music therapy can be adjusted to reach the goals people with ASD ( Myers, 2014). In the 1995 television film, “Under the Piano”, directed by Stefan Scaini, the story of one woman’s overwhelming faith in her talented