Moving Towards an Accessible Approach to Music Therapy for Autistic People: A Systematic Review

Music Therapy (MT) has been well established as beneficial for people with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), commonly known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), by improving attention, motor synchrony, and prosocial behaviors. It has been shown to be increasing in popularity as an intervention choice for ASC due to its relative accessibility. Recent research has also shown promising results with integrating technology into traditional music therapy interventions to broaden and improve therapeutic modalities. In this paper, we conduct a systematic literature review on the relationship between MT and ASC, as well as current MT practices and use this to inform a set of design recommendations on technology designed for autistic people. This design framework will guide developers and therapists working to incorporate technology into a therapeutic setting with a strength-based (SB) approach that centers participants as stakeholders. Our review indicates that much of the current research focuses on the medical treatment of autistic behaviors. The research generally supports the efficacy of MT for autism and identifies it as a particular strength of the autistic community. However, it also highlights concerns regarding common outcome measures and standardization. We then put forth three design implications, supported by various findings, to further promote accessible MT for autistic people across the spectrum.