The effect of auditory skills training on the overall outcome of children with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract EN

Background: Sensory abnormalities in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) were and still are the accused process in the pathogenesis of this disorder.

Auditory sensory processing abnormalities are considered the most common presenting sensory abnormality and play an important role in understanding the clinical presentation of the disorder.

Therefore, it should be targeted during rehabilitation programs.

Aim: This study is aiming to determine the effectiveness of a music therapy as a modality of auditory rehabilitation program on both the communicative as well as behavioral outcome of children with ASD.

Patients& Methods: An Intervention prospective study carried on a sample of randomly selected Egyptian ASD children from the Phoniatrics and Psychiatric clinic seeking the medical advice at the Special Needs Center at Ain Shams University in the period between January 2019 and January 2020.

Children were subjected to the following assessment protocol twice (pre and post intervention): Semi- structured Clinical Psychiatric Interview (included Diagnostic Observation Schedule- 2 (ADOS- 2), Communicative Assessment (included PLS- 4 Arabic edition) and the auditory processing component in the Sensory Profile Caregiver Questionnaire.

Results: There is a significant statistical difference on the Total Language age and Auditory sensory profile score in children with ASD following the auditory training based music therapy program.

Conclusion: the usage of music therapy as an auditory rehabilitation intervention program in children with ASD is considered an effective therapeutic method in making changes in the communicative aptitude as well as the auditory component of the Sensory Profile.

Such a significant outcome was more evident in males than in females.