The Effectiveness of Music Education in Psychomotor Development, Communication and Social Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Intellectual Disabilities-A Trend Study

The study aims to investigate the use of music education in inclusive classes in ordinary schools to show substantial evidence on how musical experiences may impact the various forms of development of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Intellectual Disability. The research synthesizes the advantages of music in education by examining several musical applications found useful for special needs students. However, presents some applied examples to fulfill this vision based on our dialogue about different music applications in the field of special education in Albania and highlights the efficiency to use music education as much as possible in inclusive classes. The study was conducted in a school in Vlora, Albania with five children attending this school (mean age 8-13 years) who presented ASD and ID or other related disorders. A structured checklist utilized to evaluate their progress over a three-month period, facilitated by music education sessions. Findings showed that children in the music group exhibited larger enhancement over time on rhythm performance, communication skills, and social behavior. The results raise an important subject about the value of integrating music within educational programs designed to help special needs children as it can serve as an effective tool in supporting all developmental domains. The findings from this paper suggest musical interventions may have further potential to support educational processes and development of children. More research is needed to uncover additional advantages and enhance music education instructional strategies for students with special needs.