RECRUITINGINTERVENTIONAL

Autism - Children's Improvisational Music Therapy Evaluation

A Randomised Controlled Trial on the Effectiveness of Improvisational Music Therapy for Autistic Children Aged 7 - 11 [Autism-CHIME Trial].

About This Trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of individual sessions of improvisational music therapy for autistic children aged 7 - 11. Researchers will compare the impact of adding improvisational music therapy to usual care alone for autistic children over a 12-week period. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the following two conditions: the Improvisational Music Therapy (intervention) Group or the support as usual (control) Group. The aim is to achieve seven overarching objectives: 1. To determine whether 12 weeks of individual sessions of improvisational music therapy in addition to support as usual is superior to support as usual alone in improving social communication in autistic children. 2. To examine whether 12 weeks of individual sessions of improvisational music therapy in addition to support as usual is superior to support as usual alone in improving communication skills in autistic children. 3. To examine whether 12 weeks of individual sessions of improvisational music therapy in addition to support as usual is superior to support as usual alone in reducing psychosocial problems in autistic children. 4. To examine whether 12 weeks of individual sessions of improvisational music therapy in addition to support as usual is superior to support as usual alone in improving wellbeing of autistic children. 5. To examine whether 12 weeks of individual sessions of improvisational music therapy in addition to support as usual is superior to support as usual alone in improving adaptive functioning in autistic children. 6. To examine whether 12 weeks of individual sessions of improvisational music therapy in addition to support as usual is superior to support as usual alone in improving anxiety in autistic children. 7. To examine whether the therapeutic relationship predicts the development of social, communication and language skills among autistic children.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: - Aged 7 to 11 years. - A clinical diagnosis of autism made by a qualified professional according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 10th Revision criteria. Confirmed by a copy of the clinical report detailing the diagnosis (if available) or verified verbally by the child's parents. - Parents/guardians must give willing to sign a consent form for their children to be enrolled in the trial. - Parents/guardians must be willing for the music therapy sessions and BOSCC assessments to be video recorded for monitoring and research purpose - Participants must be willing to attend two music therapy sessions per week for the duration of the trial. - Non-verbal children may be included Who Should NOT Join This Trial: - Received regular individual music therapy in the preceding year as this would be likely to have a strong influence on the course of therapy. - Severe hearing deficit as this would alter the aim, course, and implementation of therapy. - Caregivers that are unable to attend for the psychological assessments with their child. - Caregivers without a basic understanding of English. Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language

Inclusion Criteria: * Aged 7 to 11 years. * A clinical diagnosis of autism made by a qualified professional according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 10th Revision criteria. Confirmed by a copy of the clinical report detailing the diagnosis (if available) or verified verbally by the child's parents. * Parents/guardians must give informed consent for their children to be enrolled in the trial. * Parents/guardians must be willing for the music therapy sessions and BOSCC assessments to be video recorded for monitoring and research purpose * Participants must be willing to attend two music therapy sessions per week for the duration of the trial. * Non-verbal children may be included Exclusion Criteria: * Received regular individual music therapy in the preceding year as this would be likely to have a strong influence on the course of therapy. * Severe hearing deficit as this would alter the aim, course, and implementation of therapy. * Caregivers that are unable to attend for the psychological assessments with their child. * Caregivers without a basic understanding of English.

Treatments Being Tested

BEHAVIORAL

Improvisational Music Therapy

The therapist engages with the child by playing and sharing musical instruments, and/or sings while being attuned to the child's behaviour and expression. Various improvisational techniques are employed to engage the child. There are opportunities for pulse, rhythmic, dynamic or melodic patterns, and timbre to be mirrored, reinforced, or complemented, which allows for moments of synchronization between the therapist and the child, giving the child's musical expressions a pragmatic meaning within this context. The therapist may also gently provoke the child by violating expectations or patterns that have been jointly developed in order to elicit specific social communication behaviours. Further, there are opportunities for the child to develop and enhance social communication skills such as joint attention, sharing affect, reciprocity, shared history, scaffolding, imitation and turn-taking. These have been shown to develop social competency and also resilience.

Locations (2)

Anglia Ruskin University

Cambridge, United Kingdom

Autism Research Centre

Cambridge, United Kingdom