Analyses of responses of mentally retarded autistic and mentally retarded nonautistic children to art therapy and music therapy

Journal/Book: Journal of Music Therapy. 1990; 27: 137-150.

Abstract: Evaluated responses to art therapy and music therapy of 4 autistic children and 4 nonautistic children (mean age 8 yrs 10 mo) who were severely to profoundly retarded. The Developmental Therapy Objectives Rating Form was used to rate the Ss on 4 areas of development: behavior, communication, socialization, and preacademics. The Systematic-Who-to-Whom-Analysis Notation (W. Swan, 1971) was used to obtain behavioral ratings in 5 categories: work, nonunderstandable verbalization/inappropriate work, contact received, observed teacher, and play. There were few significant differences in measures of behavior and development between autistic and nonautistic Ss. During the experimental period, nonautistic Ss made greater gains than autistic Ss in the 4 developmental areas. ABSTRACT 2: This study analyzed and evaluated responses to art therapy and music therapy of autistic children who were severely to profoundly retarded and nonautistic children who were severely to profoundly retarded. The Developmental Therapy Objectives Rating Form was used to rate the children on four areas of development: behavior, communication, socialization, and preacademics. The Systematic-Who-To-Whom-Analysis Notation was used to obtain subject behavioral ratings in five categories: work, nonunderstandable verbalization/inappropriate work, contact received, observed teacher and play. Findings indicated few significant differences in measures of behavior and development between the autistic and nonautistic subjects, howeverm during the experiment the nonautistic made greater gains in the four developmental areas.Findings from the SWAN data indicated significant changes in behavior in 3 categories.

Note: art & music therapy; severely to profoundly mentally retarded children with vs without autism

Keyword(s): Art therapy; music therapy; severely mentally retarded; profoundly mentally retarded; autism ; childhood. autistic-child, autism, mental retardation, developmental-disabilities, music-therapy, art-therapy, responses, severe-mental-retardation, behavior, communication, socialization.

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