Music Therapy for People With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects social interaction, communication, and learning, with its prevalence continuing to rise, and music therapy (MT) has shown promise in improving social interactions and communication skills in individuals with ASD. This systematic review explores the relationship between ASD and music therapy, examining factors that influence its effectiveness in children. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 2009 and 2024 was conducted to assess the effects of music therapy on children with autism. Studies were retrieved from databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar, with the final search completed by October 1, 2024, and only RCTs that evaluated music's impact on ASD and reported relevant outcomes were included, while non-RCTs, studies with a high risk of bias, and duplicates were excluded. A total of nine RCTs involving 1,327 children with ASD, aged 2-12, were analyzed; these studies assessed various music therapy interventions lasting from two weeks to eight months, with sessions occurring one to three times per week. Findings were mixed, as four studies with 449 participants reported significant improvements in social communication skills, while three larger studies with 715 participants found no significant changes in primary social outcomes but noted improvements in specific aspects of social responsiveness, and two smaller studies with 59 participants reported notable enhancements in verbal production and emotional responsiveness. Music therapy has been recognized as a beneficial intervention for improving health outcomes across various conditions, including mental health disorders, and this review highlights its potential in autism, particularly in enhancing cognitive processing, emotional responses, and social communication; however, while the findings are promising, further research with larger sample sizes and extended study durations is necessary to validate these effects.