Therapies for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

To study auditory integration intervention (Table 24), Corbett et al. 270 used a double-blind,
placebo-controlled crossover design on the effects of Tomatis Sound Therapy on language skills
in children with autistic disorder, ages 3 to 7 years who had not previously had auditory
stimulation treatments. In the treatment condition, children listened to music passed through an
electronic ear for attenuation and modulation for two hours per day in accordance with the
Tomatis Method protocol. The protocol was divided into four blocks, each lasting 3 weeks. In
the placebo condition, children listened to commercially produced music in the same blocked
schedule. No improvements in receptive or expressive language were related to treatment
conditions, as the increase in scores over time (i.e., pre-first condition, midpoint, post-second
condition) was not different between groups (i.e., Treatment/Placebo and Placebo/Treatment).
Mudford and colleagues studied AIT in children with autism ages 5 to 13 years (mean age=
9.4); 269 all children had significant language delays and low adaptive behavior levels. No
significant benefit of AIT was found (Table 24).
Table 24. Outcomes of RCTs of auditory/music interventions for the treatment of ASDs
Author, Year, Country Age, mean IQ, mean ±
Key outcomes
Groups, N enrollment/ N final
Study quality
years ± SD SD
Corbett et al. 270 2008, US
G1: 5.25 66.8 • Results indicated no improvements in
(range: 3.5- (combined) receptive or expressive language
G1: Tomatis Sound Therapy followed 7.42)
related to treatment.
by placebo in four three-wk blocks, G2: 5.93
6/6
(range: 4-
G2: placebo followed by Tomatis
Sound Therapy in four three-wk
blocks, 5/5
7.17)
Quality: Fair
Mudford et al. 269 2000, UK
G1: AIT followed by control
G2: control followed by AIT
Total N at enrollment: 21
Final N:
G1: 7
G2: 9
Quality: Fair
9.42 yrs ± 29
mo
6/21
untestable;
15/21
mean=56
82
• No significant benefit of auditory
integration found; greater reduction in
challenging behavior and hyperactivity
following control relative to treatment
condition.
AIT=auditory integration therapy; IQ=intelligence quotient; N=number; NR=not reported; SD=standard deviation; SI=sensory
integration
One study investigated the effects of music therapy in children ages 3 to 5 years (mean =
51.2 months) with autism in comparison to the effects of play-based sessions on joint attention
behaviors with results reported in two papers. 89,271 A crossover design was used such that all
children completed both music and play interventions, with treatment order randomly assigned.
Sessions in both conditions were divided into 15 minutes of undirected child-led activities,
followed by 15 minutes of directed activities according to a semi-flexible treatment manual
developed for the study. There were no significant between group differences on the Pervasive
Development Disorder Behavior Inventory, though both groups improved with time. Results
from the Early Social Communication Scales, reflecting growth in joint attention skills,
suggested that music therapy was significantly more effective than play sessions. Change scores
pre- to post-music therapy were significantly greater than change scores pre- to post-play
sessions.