ROLE OF MUSIC THERAPY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF LANGUAGE SKILLS IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition that typically emerges in early childhood, marked by difficulties in communication, social interaction, behaviour, and emotional regulation. Despite these challenges, many children with ASD demonstrate exceptional musical abilities, making music a powerful medium for enhancing self-expression, fostering social bonds, and supporting neurological development crucial for speech and social skills. Historically, minimally verbal children with ASD were often excluded from research due to the difficulty of assessment using standardised tools; however, recent advancements have enabled more inclusive studies. Over the past decade, naturalistic approaches have gained prominence, with music therapy emerging as a particularly promising intervention. A systematic literature review, based on original research sourced from PubMed, Sage, and ScienceDirect, examined six studies involving children aged two to twelve years with minimal verbal abilities and a clinical diagnosis of autism. These studies consistently found that music therapy significantly supports the development of language and social communication skills, while also enhancing fronto-temporal brain connectivity. The review contributes valuable insights into the current state of research, underscores the importance of early intervention and parental involvement, and lays the groundwork for further exploration into the role of music therapy in language development for children with ASD.