10 Surprising Facts about Autism and Music

AUTISM SPECTRUM 66 DISORDER+MUSIC Music Lessons While the causes for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are not well known, people who have it experience a heightened perception of sound, and most have developed brains which are ideally suited to understanding and mastering the art of music. Here are 10 surprising facts about how music affects people with ASD. Most individuals with ASD respond POSITIVELY TO People with ASD often show A HEIGHTENED AND EARLY INTEREST AND MUSIC. RESPONSE TO MUSIC. (AMTA, 2008) (Molnar-Szakacs, I. & Heaton, P, 2012). Music transcends language barriers by being a SINGING RATHER THAN UNIVERSAL SPEAKING LANGUAGE. ill ote esutin inreased interactivity in people with ASD who process pitch, timbre and rhythm in different areas of the brain. MUSIC ACTIVATES ВОТН ВОTНе (Wan, C, Demaine, K., Zipsea, L, Norton, A, & Schlaug, G, 2010) MUSIC PROVIDES A HEMISPHERES OF THE BRAIN non-verbal, non-threatening way of confronting issues. and stimulates cognitive processing. (Wan, C, Demaine, K., Zipsea, L, Norton, A, & Schlaug, G, 2010) Research shows that individuals with autism show EQUAL OR SUPERIOR ABILITIES IN Musical elements, structure, and predictability provide a sense of security and safety FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT THRIVE ON ROUTINES. pitch processing, labeling of emotions in music, and musical (AMTA, 2008) preference when compared to PERFECT PITCH OCCURS IN ONLY typically developing peers. (Stanutz, S., Wapnick,1& Burack, J. A, 2014) INDIVIDUALS WITH SEVERE AUTISM SHARE THE SAME MUSICAL .0001% PREFERENCES AS OF THE POPULATION. typically developing individuals despite their challenges. Some therapists have found 60% of their ASD clients have perfect pitch. O00 (Brown, W.A, Cammuso, K., Sachs, H, Winklosky, B., Mullane, I, Bernier, R., Svenson, S, Arin, D, Rosen-Sheidley, B. & Folstein, S.E, 2003). (Rancer, S.) (AMTA, 2008) For more information about ASD and the benifits of music please visit; BNBMUSICLESSONS.COM Stanutz, S., Wapnick, J. & Burack, J. (2014). Pitch điscrimination and melodic memory in children with autism spectrum disorders. Autism, 18(2)137-47. doit 10.117/1362361312462905. Molnar-Szakacs, I. & Heaton, P. (2012). Music a unique window into the world of autism. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1252, 318-24. Wan, C. & Schlaug, G. (2010). Neural pathways for language in autism: the potential for music-based treatments. Future Neurology, 5(6), 797-805. Brown, W.A, Cammuso, K, Sachs, H, Winklosky, B, Mullane, J, Bernier, R., Svenson, S, Arin, D., Rosen-Sheidley, B. & Folstein, S.E. (2003). Autism-related language, personality, and cognition in people with absolute pitchc Results of a preliminary study. Journal of Autismand Developmental Disorders, 33(2), 163-167. AMTA (2008). Autism Spectrum Disorders: Music Therapy Research and Evidenced-Based Practice Support. Silver Spring, MD: AMTA. Wan, C., Demaine, K., Zipsea, L., Norton, A., & Schlaug, G. (2010). From music making to speaking: Engaging the mirror neuron system in autism. Brain Research Bulletin 82, 161-168. Rancer, S. (n.d.). What is perfect pitch. Retrieved from http://www.susanrancer.com/index.html