The Effect of Musical Attention Control Training (MACT) on Attention Skills of Adolescents with Neurodevelopmental Delays: A Pilot Study

Social outcomes in children with autism spectrum disorder: a review of music therapy outcomes

“…Initial evidence indicated that a music therapy protocol increased selective and alternating attention in children with neurodevelopmental disorders, including ASD. 78 Speech communication was shown to increase in children receiving music therapy interventions, with the greatest benefit for children who exhibited low verbal skills. 15 Music therapy interventions have also been shown to improve emotional understanding, 79 which may affect a person’s ability to relate to another person.…”

“…Although more research on these areas of treatment is needed, studies demonstrate initial evidence that music may improve skills that could directly affect social skills in children with ASD. 34 , 35 , 78 …”

India′s rich musical heritage has a lot to offer to modern psychiatry

“…It has been found to alleviate depression by providing new esthetic, physical and relational experiences for the patients[ 38 ] It can enhance communication and expressive skills, and when used adequately as an adjunct can improve negative symptoms and social functioning in patients suffering from schizophrenia and related disorders[ 39 ] Unique needs of women and adolescents suffering from substance use disorders can be met by music therapy. [ 40 ] Initial findings suggest a positive role of music therapy in high-functioning adolescents with neurodevelopmental delay[ 41 ] Music therapy for parents who have a child with disability improves parental mental health and promotes positive parenting[ 42 ] Developmental music groups have a positive impact on social behavior of premature and full term infants[ 43 ] Music can be perceived by individuals who are deaf by virtue of its visual and vibrotactile modalities[ 44 ] Musical training can counteract age-related cognitive decline[ 45 ] Listening to music daily in the 1 st month after stroke leads to structural changes in the frontolimbic region,[ 46 ] and these changes were associated with enhanced cognitive and emotional recovery[ 47 ] Music-based cognitive remediation improves executive functions in patients with traumatic brain injury[ 48 ] Music is effective in alleviating chronic pain,[ 49 ] and is of use in palliative care[ 50 ] Music can cause a sense of subjective well-being and have a positive impact on cognitive function, mood, and quality of life of older adults. [ 51 ] …”

“…Initial findings suggest a positive role of music therapy in high-functioning adolescents with neurodevelopmental delay[ 41 ]…”

The Effect of Music Intervention on Attention in Children: Experimental Evidence

“…Knox et al (2003) reported that a brain injured adolescent showed improvements in alternating attention following intervention from a Musical Attention Training Program, which required participants to switch concentration between a melodic line and a drum track. Pasiali et al (2014) examined the effectiveness of a standardized music therapy technique, Musical Attention Control Training (MACT; Thaut and Gardiner, 2014) in nine 13-to-20-year-old adolescents with varying severity of neurodevelopmental delays. The authors found positive improvements in selective attention and attention control on an attention test battery after eight group sessions.…”