400 Section - Effectiveness of music therapy on speech delay in children with autism: a randomized controlled trial

A single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted, enrolling 14 children aged 3 to 5 years diagnosed with autism and speech delay. Participants were randomly assigned to a music therapy group (n = 6) or a control group (n = 8). Both groups received 30-minute weekly language therapy, while the intervention group additionally participated in 1-hour weekly group music therapy sessions for 8 weeks. Outcome measures included the Preschool Language Scale (PLS), the Checklist for Autism Spectrum Disorder (CASD), the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), and the Parenting Stress Index, Fourth Edition Short Form (PSI-4-SF). Data were analyzed using generalized estimating equations to examine group, time, and interaction effects.

Results:

Over the 8-week period, both groups demonstrated improvements in language and behavior, yet the music therapy group showed more robust trends across multiple domains. In language outcomes, expressive PLS percentile rank improved substantially (Δ = +7.17 vs. −0.13), with favorable group-by-time interaction in the expressive subscale (β = 2.024). Improvements in CASD total and subscale scores were more consistent in the music therapy group, particularly in social interaction and emotional regulation. Additionally, the music group showed greater reductions in CBCL scores and a trend toward reduced parenting stress on PSI-4-SF. No adverse effects were reported.

Conclusion: Preliminary evidence supports music therapy as a promising adjunct to conventional language therapy for young children with autism and speech delay. Music therapy appears to foster expressive language growth, enhance prosody, and alleviate autism-related symptoms, with potential secondary benefits for behavior and parent–child dynamics. Large trials with longer follow-up are warrented.