Music Therapy and Autism

Jaswal and Akhtar’s outstanding target article identifies the necessary social nature of the human mind, even in autism. We agree with the authors and present significant contributory origins of this autistic isolation in disruption of purposeful movement made social from infancy. Timing differences in expression can be misunderstood in embodied engagement, and social intention misread. Sensitive relations can repair this.

This literature review seeks to find out, if the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) could be a useful instrument in an inclusive scholastic context when music therapy-based interventions are applied. The aim is to compare studies in which the SRS is a used to measure the impact of music-based interventions, and to deduce its usability in an inclusive scholastic context. A literature research on the databases RomaTreDiscovery, Science Direct, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Cochrane is conducted the 28.07.2017 and the 08.08.2017 using the keywords " social responsiveness scale " , " autism " , and " music ". The following inclusion criteria are applied: the studies are either randomized controlled trials (RCT) or controlled trials (CT), use the SRS as outcome measure, utilize a music-based intervention, and target a population of children or adolescents with ASD. During the literature research 11 studies were identified, based on title and abstract. After studying the full articles 4 met the inclusion criteria (Bhatara et al., 2009; Geretsegger et al., 2012; La Gasse, 2014; Thompson, McFerran & Gold, 2013). An analysis aiming on the type of the music intervention, the population, and the frequency of interventions is conducted. Since the number of studies that met the inclusion criteria is rather small, there is only little evidence from this research. Since the SRS seems to be a useful tool confronting the influence of music on social skills in children and adolescents, it might be applicable to measure the impact of music therapy in an inclusive classroom.

Per farci un'idea chiara su che cosa sia la Musicoterapia e le sue applicazioni in ambito medico dobbiamo risalire agli studi di fama internazionale che da oltre trent'anni affrontano questa tematica, mi riferisco in particolare a Rolando Omar Benenzon psichiatra argentino tra i maggiori esponenti mondiale di questa disciplina, Tony Wigram professore ordinario dell'Università di Aalborg in Danimarca, non mancano grandi esponenti in Italia, come Gerardo Manarolo psichiatra dell' Asl di Genova o Giulia Cremaschi Trovesi fondatrice del modello di musicoterapia umanistica. In merito alla disciplina della musicoterapia c'è ancora molto da scoprire e per evitare di fare confusione tra i vari metodi (attivo, ricettivo, vibrazionale, olistico, integrativo, analitico) descriverò brevemente il metodo che il musicoterapeuta utilizza per lavorare con i Disturbi dello Spettro Autistico (ASD). Partiamo dal principio. La musicoterapia nasce dagli studi sul linguaggio, si interroga sui diversi modi di comunicare che esistono in natura, dell'uomo e degli animali al fine di interpretare la musica come una forma di comunicazione: un linguaggio non--verbale. In Inghilterra la violoncellista Juliette Alvin ha individuato nella musica una valida alternativa pedagogica e terapeutica lavorando con bambini autistici: si accorse di come rispondevano al linguaggio musicale e ha imparato a dialogare con essi, sviluppando il primo metodo di musicoterapia per bambini autistici[1]. L'improvvisazione, in musica, è un processo molto simile allo scambio interattivo che avviene naturalmente tra madre e neonato, necessita di continui adattamenti reciproci chiamati "sintonizzazioni" e che permettono, infine, di realizzare una comunicazione profondamente empatica. Con l'acronimo A.S.D. intendo riferirmi ad Autism Spectrum Disorders, disturbi recentemente classificati nel DSM V come disturbi del neurosviluppo con esordio nei primi anni di vita. I disturbi compromettono tra l'altro la capacità di reciprocità sociale, ovvero una totale mancanza di consapevolezza degli altri e le

Se expone un proyecto de Musicoterapia en Educación dirigido al alumnado escolarizado en el Aula Especifica con diagnóstico de Trastorno Generalizado del Desarrollo (TEA) en un Centro Publico de Educación Infantil y Primaria de la Junta de Andalucía realizado durante el curso académico 2013-2014. El proyecto se organizó como un Grupo de Trabajo a través del Centro de Profesores de la Provincia de Cádiz.

A 17 year old boy diagnosed as a case of Autism became completely independent and free from all the limiting symptoms of autism that he had been suffering from since the age of 2 years and started earning on his own for the first time in his life after undergoing 20 Remote Healing sessions using the cutting-edge science of Applied Intentional Epigenetics with Intent Healing (TM). INTRODUCTION The biggest worry for all parents with children diagnosed with Autism or ASD is about the " future " of their child. This concern specifically includes the nagging doubt whether their child would be able to survive independently or they would need to plan for institutional care for their child. With 1 in 68 children being diagnosed with autism, the prevalence of children on the spectrum who grow into adulthood without being able to manage even their basic needs independently is on the increase. Added to this is the prevailing erroneous notion that there is no known effective " scientific " cure for the debilitating symptoms in autism. I present here a case of a 17 year old adolescent with autism who had been completely dependent on his parents even for completing the basic tasks of survival on a daily basis, for 17 years of his life and was healed by me operating in the newly emerging scientific discipline of Applied Intentional Epigenetics, using the cutting edge Intent Healing (TM) Remote Healing method, following which all his limiting

Δύε Νενθιένπο Σξαγνύδη Σν ηξαγνύδη έρεη ζεξαπεπηηθέο ηδηόηεηεο αθνύ όηαλ ηξαγνπδάκε ελεξγνπνηείηαη ν εγθέθαινο κέζσ δνλήζεσλ θαη επαλαθνξηίδεηαη κε ελέξγεηα. ην ηξαγνύδη ν εγθέθαινο ρξεζηκνπνηεί θαη ηα δύν εκηζθαίξηα (Tomatis,1999).  Σν ηξαγνύδη απνηππώλεηαη ζηε κλήκε θαη ρξεζηκνπνηείηαη σο έλαο ηξόπνο κε ιεθηηθήο επηθνηλσλίαο. Από ηελ παηδηθή καο ειηθία εξρόκαζηε ζε επαθή κε ην ηξαγνύδη, αθνύ ηα βξέθε πξηλ αθόκε κηιήζνπλ ρξεζηκνπνηνύλ ηε θσλή ηνπο γηα λα δεκηνπξγήζνπλ ή λα αλαπαξάγνπλ κεισδίεο.  Σν ηξαγνύδη είλαη ε πξώηε ζπκβνιηθή εκπεηξία γηα λα κπνξέζνπλ ηα παηδηά λα αληηιεθζνύλ ηνλ θόζκν γύξσ ηνπο. ηελ ζπκβνιηθή αιιειεπίδξαζε εξκελεύνληαη νη ρεηξηζκνί θάπνηνπ, θαη ε ελέξγεηα ηνπ απνδέθηε γίλεηαη κε βάζε ην λόεκα πνπ απνδίδεηαη από ηελ εξκελεία ησλ ρεηξηζκώλ απηώλ (Dingwall, DeGloma, Newmahr, 2012).  Χξεζηκνπνηείηαη γηα λα επηθνηλσλήζνπκε κε ηνπο γύξσ καο, λα εθθξάζνπκε ηηο ζθέςεηο θαη ηα ζπλαηζζήκαηά καο.  Σν ηξαγνύδη ρξεζηκνπνηείηαη ζηε Μνπζηθνζεξαπεία κε ζθνπό λα βνεζήζεη ηνλ ζεξαπεπηή λ' αλαθαιύςεη πηπρέο ηνπ εαπηνύ ηνπ αζζελή, λα κπνξεί ν αζζελήο λα θσδηθνπνηεί θαη λα ζπκάηαη γεγνλόηα, λα επηθνηλσλήζεη, λα αλαθαιύςεη ηηο δπλαηόηεηέο ηνπ, λα αλαπηπρζεί, λα εθθξάζεη ζπλαηζζήκαηα, λα έξζεη αληηκέησπνο κε δπζθνιίεο θαη θνβίεο ρσξίο όκσο λα έξρεηαη ζε άκεζε επαθή κε ηε ιεθηηθή επηθνηλσλία. Οη ζηίρνη απνηεινύλ έλα πνιύ ζεκαληηθό ζηνηρείν .

Tiivistelmä – Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (also called ASD) is the fastest growing disability. Research shows
that music is a relational, emotional, and motivational medium that plays an essential role in
field of music therapy, specifically for individuals with autism. This Master’s thesis aims at
describing the intensive music therapy process with a 24 year-old Turkish-Cypriot male client
diagnosed with ASD in a group setting concentrating on his four main areas of impairments
(verbal/non verbal, social interaction, organization/perception and aspects of behavior) and
how Creative Music Therapy affected such impaired areas. Results were in correspondence
with previous studies about music therapy in treatment of individuals with ASD giving
support to the notion that through the process of music therapy, the client was given the
opportunity to actively participate in music-making within various and appropriate settings as
music accommodated the client’s levels and abilities. The applied music therapy seemed to
serve as an effective alternative and demonstrated the fact that informal, fun and functional
uses of music at institutions such as the Irfan Nadir +18 rehabilitation center can benefit
individuals with autism. The case of the client in this study also showed music’s contribution
in helping people with autism to live a happier and more fulfilling life.

This booklet is about music and autism. It examines the neurological basis of autism and how music can be used as a step by step approach. It is primarily meant as a guide for ABT Practitioners who are working with children on the autism spectrum.

All ABT Practitioners who are working with groups having communication, expressive, cognitive and motor difficulties will also find the tools and techniques very useful. 

The booklet is dedicated to parents-teachers, who have to become extra-ordinary so that they can connect to children who do not tolerate the ordinary. 

WCCL Foundation would like to thank and acknowledge the support of Sir J.R.D. Tata Trust, Mumbai (http://www.dorabjitatatrust.org) for their valuable financial support, Prasanna Autism center (www.prasannaautism.org), for its sincere commitment towards serving children on the autistic spectrum.

The new definition of EBM or 'evidence based medicine' that would help make the 'paradigm-shift' in autism towards applying the solution(s) and seeing the results is - including and accepting the individual case-reports of "healed" cases of autism on an case to case basis as presented as the evidence of the individual with autism being free from the limiting symptoms of autism (symptoms defined or described as "limiting" by the individual with the particular symptoms) due to any method or intervention that that individual used/applied.
Therefore, the re-defining of EBM in autism is of urgent and
immediate importance and significance as that would open the path to more and more cases of "autism healing"/ autism "solutions" coming to light from all over the world.
This would be the way forward in ensuring a global awakening
towards experiencing the healing in autism instead of
struggling needlessly, in many cases,with the debilitating symptoms of autism.
The time to make that paradigm-shift from the problem to the solution in autism is now.

Although “mainstream” medicine continues to turn a blind eye to the presence of autism treatments and therapies that are showing results in autism , in the spirit of practising “good science” , this article seeks to present the SCIENCE behind HOW these Therapies “work” and WHY they seem to work only in some cases of autism and not on ALL the cases on the ASD Spectrum. Today we stand at the threshold of a new revolution in science where the “common man” is not only a participant but also the harbinger (in many cases) and the “discoverer” and also the “inventor” of SOLUTIONS for problems and issues and challenges that especially mainstream “Professionals” with their degrees and qualifications are unable to  understand or “accept” . Read More ...

Applied Intentional Epigenetics is transforming the way children who present with epilepsy coexisting with autism are being treated today. This article explores the option of applying Epigenetics as a Biotechnological Tool in curing the limiting symptoms of autism and curing seizure disorders when present along with autism, thus helping the child to be free from both without taking any conventional antiepileptic medications. Read More ...

Community is essential for individuals to feel like a part of something larger; however, many individuals with disabilities and their families lack a connection to community due to the display of unusual social behaviours or unavailable accommodations when at community-based events. Community music therapy (CoMT) encompasses an effort to build community around music-making and enjoyment for the collective whole, as well as supporting social justice and self-advocacy for individuals. One CoMT effort specific to individuals on the autism spectrum is the Sensory Friendly Concerts® (SFCs), a music enjoyment and making venue that promotes the social acceptance of each individual, specifically of those who identify as ‘autistic’ and seek to develop an autistic culture and community. SFCs are not only a venue to create ‘equal access to the fine arts’, but also serves as a platform for self-advocacy, thus promoting the social justice of a typically marginalized population. The purpose of this project report is to discuss how SFCs, as a CoMT initiative, can provide an opportunity for individuals and families to explore the arts, develop an inclusive community and promote social justice for autistic people. To this effect, this article will discuss SFCs within the broader scope of community music and CoMT, introduce core concepts of the Neurodiversity movement, and present initial programme evaluation data and personal accounts from SFCs.

Due to copyright contract with the publisher, only the first page is uploaded. Please go to: http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/intellect/ijcm/2014/00000007/00000001/art00007 It is only $18.

How is creativity related to health and mental illness? What is the relationship between the nature of the unconscious and the predisposition to both creativity and mental illness? These questions are explored with reference to research on: creativity, imagination and primary process thinking, intuition and unconscious processes, dream sleep, and aspects of schizophrenia. A positive model of mental health that sees creativity as an aspect of self-realisation is outlined in terms of homeostasis and the importance of information flow between neuropsychological systems. The role of executive function and attention in controlling information flow between the cerebellar unconscious and the cerebral conscious is noted, with reference to

As humanity is rapidly moving towards gearing up to “ welcome “ the next stage in Human Evolution as represented by autistic beings, especially children with autism, an Emerging field of science namely Brain Theranostics is being enriched by Paradigm-Shifting Autism Treatment Techniques. This article introduces the Emerging Science of Theranostics in Autism and presents the Overview of this leading-edge application that is Transforming the Autism Diagnosis and Treatment Landscape today.
Before we proceed further in our understanding ..Read More

#Autism #AutismTreatment #AutismSurrogateHealing #IntentHealing #NonVerbalAutism
What is Surrogate healing in Autism ?
Surrogate healing in Autism is the healing of the limiting
symptoms in a child with Autism by channeling Intent Healing™
energies with the parents of the child Autism as surrogates.
Read More ....

Executive functions (EFs) play a vital part in planning and organising everyday life, and they are directly linked to tasks like problem solving and language skills. Furthermore, weaknesses in EF are frequent in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Since music therapy is gaining popularity as a treatment and education technique with this population, it seems important to examine its effects on EFs. This study seeks to evaluate the potential of music-based interventions to influence EFs, and to discuss its value in music therapy and special education research. A total of 12 studies were included in the research. As most research is focused on active music making in healthy subjects , its effects on EF in autism must be deduced and discussed based on the literature. The findings of this study can contribute to open new perspectives in music therapy research, and to create innovative approaches for children with ASD.

RESUMEN
La música que atesoramos, que nos habita y secuestra, provoca un ahondamiento, una receptividad hacia emociones que de otro modo nos serían desconocidas. Los intentos de desarrollar una psicología, una neurología y una fisiología de la influencia de la música sobre el cuerpo y la mente se remontan a Pitágoras y la magia terapéutica, pasando por Schopenhauer y Nietzsche, hasta llegar a Sloterdijk, quien plantea como basamento de este interrogar, como pregunta estrictamente filosófica, exploratoria de la experiencia musical: ¿dónde estamos, cuando escuchamos música? A la que podríamos añadir ¿a dónde nos dirigimos cuando escuchamos música? O, mejor aún, ¿hacia dónde somos conducidos?
La música puede invadir y sensibilizar la psique humana ejerciendo una especie de secuestro del ánimo, con una fuerza de penetración y éxtasis, tal vez sólo comparable a la de los narcóticos o a la del trance referido por los chamanes, los místicos y los santos. No es casual que la palabra alemana Stimmung signifique "humor" y "estado de ánimo", pero también comporte la idea de "voz" y "sintonía". Somos "sintonizados" por la música que se apodera de nosotros. La música puede transmutarnos, puede volvernos locos a la vez que puede curarnos. La importancia de la música en los estados de anormalidad del ánimo es un hecho reconocido incluso en el relato bíblico donde David toca para Saúl. Las estructuras tonales que llamamos 'música' tienen una estrecha relación con las formas de sentimiento humano -formas de crecimiento y atenuación, de fluidez y ordenamiento, conflicto y resolución, rapidez, arresto, terrible excitación, calma o lapsos de ensoñación- quizás ni gozo ni pensar, sino el patetismo de uno u otro y ambos, la grandeza y la brevedad y el fluir eterno de todo lo vitalmente sentido. Tal es el patrón, o 'forma lógica', de la sensibilidad, y el patrón de la música es esa misma forma elaborada a través de sonidos y silencios. La música es así "una analogía tonal de la vida emotiva".
Dr. Adolfo Vásquez Rocca

A 17 year old boy diagnosed as a case of Autism became completely independent and free from all the limiting symptoms of autism that he had been suffering from since the age of 2 years and started earning on his own for the first time in his life after undergoing 20 Remote Healing sessions using the cutting-edge science of Applied Intentional Epigenetics with Intent Healing (TM).

This book offers a practical, ready-to-use MuSense program. Originally designed for music therapists working with individuals with profound multiple disabilities, the MuSense program provides comprehensive guidance to music therapists on how to effectively work with individuals whose needs can be extremely difficult to meet. Containing a robust, structured, evidence-based protocol of music therapy, and supported by case studies throughout, this book is also an essential resource in treatment planning for other diverse populations needing to develop enhanced body and sensory awareness.

What is Surrogate healing in Autism? Surrogate healing in autism is the healing of the limiting symptoms in a child with autism by channeling Intent Healing™ energies with the parents of the child acting as surrogates. All the limiting symptoms in autism, including a child being non-verbal are due to the energy disturbances in the energy fields of the child with autism. Once these energy disturbances are corrected, all these limiting symptoms disappear and in non-verbal autism the child gains the faculty of speech

Jaswal and Akhtar identify the necessary social nature of the human mind, even in autism. We agree with the authors and present significant contributory origins of this autistic isolation in disruption of purposeful movement made social from infancy. Timing differences in expression can be misunderstood in embodied engagement, and social intention misread. Sensitive relations can repair this.

The role of language in constituting being and reality was an abiding concern of existential philosophers but not all ways of being are discursive. How we build musicality into an existential understanding of being and reality? Can existential concepts be developed to understand a specifically musical kind of Being, distinguishable from the kind of reality or consciousness constituted by words? Heidegger understands being-in-the-world in terms of temporality, as thrownness, fallen-ness and projection, a stream of consciousness through past, present and future, which makes it possible to orient ourselves in the world, as care. Care is structured by our being in time, which we can realise authentically or inauthentically. Musical care then would be how we can orient ourselves to the world through music. Merleau-Ponty emphasised the self as a lived worldly body, on knowing others through shared physical experience, which can include non-discursive being as manifest through music, and more generally the sensual musicality inherent to being. Merleau-Ponty develops an analogy between Heraclitus’ discussion of the flow of a river as analogous to lived time (temporality). I suggest that music is like Heraclitus’ river of being, that can situate us back in embodied, lived time. Music can therefore be a corrective to our ‘rational’ capacity to view space/time objectively, returning us to pre-rational lived time, being lived sensuously, temporally, in a structure of care, rather than as a succession of objective nows. Foregrounding our musicality foregrounds the tactileness of our being, and strengthens our subjectivity as a relation, disclosure and unfolding of self/world, in a way that the discursive intentionality cannot. Through music a sense of self that can be strengthened, by strengthening the sense of being as a dynamic sensuous self/world shared with others. Hopefully such reflections can help us understand the importance of human musical being in a viable society.

Presentazione riassuntiva del progetto di musicoterapia svolto nelle scuole dell'infanzia e rivolto alle classi nelle quali erano presenti bambini con disturbo dello spettro autistico.
Poster presentato al Convegno sull'Autismo organizzato dalla Erikson a Riva del Garda, 2010.