The Effect of Movement Activities in Synchronization With Music on Motor Proficiency of Children With Autism

Abstract

Objectives: Although social deficits are the main features of autism, children in autism spectrum disorder often too display difficulties with posture, coordination and motor planning. As such, poor motor skills are believed to be associated with greater difficulties in social communication. Some recent studies show that music can improve the sensory processing and motor functions by affecting brain connectivity. The present study aims to examine the effect of movement activities in synchronization with music on motor proficiency of 7 to 14 years old children with low functioning autism. Materials & Methods:A double-blind randomized controlled trial design was used in this study. Twenty two subjects participated in the study and assigned into experimental and control groups randomly. The interventions consisted of movement activities with music for experimental group and without music for control group. Motor proficiency of subjects such as balance performance, bilateral coordination and upper limb coordination were assessed by trained independent evaluator before the treatment and also after 12 th and 24 th therapeutic sessions using 3 subtests of Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP). The effect of interventions in two groups were compared by repeated measures ANOVA. Results:The results indicated that both interventions improved motor performance in the participants but the effects of interventions on balance performance (P<0.001), bilateral coordination (P<0.05) and upper limb coordination (P<0.001) were significantly different between the two groups. Conclusion:Movement therapy is beneficial for children with autism, but movement activities in synchronization with music can accelerate improvements in motor proficiency of these children. A B S T R A C T Article info:Received: 08 Jan. 2017

The Effectiveness of Combined Music Therapy and Physical Activity on Motor Coordination in Children With Autism

“…The obtained results suggested that music therapy interventions along with play therapy significantly increased the motor skills of experimental group compared to the controls. The positive effects of music in the motor coordination of children with ASD have been confirmed in previous research studies [13,[25][26][27][28], as well.…”

“…The play therapy was planned and performed based on the disorder. The music therapy program along with the motor activities have been extracted from the musical composition program and the movement of Matthews Moreno et al [24] and the program of 'the effect of movement activities in synchronization with music' by Atigh et al [13].…”

“…Studies have documented that the common aspect of music along with motor activities is influential on the motor coordination of individuals with ASD [13]. Until 1988, the general idea of available results is based on this fact that physical activities not only improve physical conditions in children with ASD, but also reduce their inconsistent behavioral patterns [14].…”

Innovative computer technology in music-based interventions for individuals with autism moving beyond traditional interactive music therapy techniques

“…Compared to a control group who took part in non-musical movement activities. Eleven children with low functioning autism who received musically synchronised movement exercises over an 8-week period showed significant improvements in motor skills, such as balance and upper limb coordination as measured by the Bruininks-Oseretsky test of motor proficiency (Atigh, Akbarfahimi, & Zarei, 2017). This study therefore suggests that musical accompaniment during physical exercises enhances motor skill learning of children with autism.…”