{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,10]],"date-time":"2026-10-10T16:59:35Z","timestamp":1791651575902,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":59,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,4,9]],"date-time":"2021-04-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1617926400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Psychiatry"],"abstract":"<jats:p><jats:bold>Background:<\/jats:bold> Several studies have reported contradictory results regarding the benefits of music interventions in children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including autism spectrum disorder (ASD).<\/jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Methods:<\/jats:bold> We performed a systematic review according to the PRISMA guidelines. We searched the Cochrane, PubMed and Medline databases from January 1970 to September 2020 to review all empirical findings, except case reports, measuring the effect of music therapy on youths with ASD, intellectual disability (ID), communication disorder (CD), developmental coordination disorder (DCD), specific learning disorder, and attention\/deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).<\/jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Results:<\/jats:bold> Thirty-nine studies (<jats:italic>N<\/jats:italic> = 1,774 participants) were included in this review (ASD: <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic> = 22; ID: <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic> = 7; CD and dyslexia: <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic> = 5; DCD: <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic> = 0; ADHD: <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic> = 5 studies). Two main music therapies were used: educational music therapy and improvisational music therapy. A positive effect of educational music therapy on patients with ASD was reported in most controlled studies (6\/7), particularly in terms of speech production. A positive effect of improvisational music therapy was reported in most controlled studies (6\/8), particularly in terms of social functioning. The subgroup of patients with both ASD and ID had a higher response rate. Data are lacking for children with other NDDs, although preliminary evidence appears encouraging for educational music therapy in children with dyslexia.<\/jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Discussion:<\/jats:bold> Improvisational music therapy in children with NDDs appears relevant for individuals with both ASD and ID. More research should be encouraged to explore whether oral and written language skills may improve after educational music therapy, as preliminary data are encouraging.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2021.643234","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,4,9]],"date-time":"2021-04-09T05:24:56Z","timestamp":1617945896000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":106,"title":["Music Therapy for Children With Autistic Spectrum Disorder and\/or Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Systematic Review"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"12","author":[{"given":"Hanna","family":"Mayer-Benarous","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xavier","family":"Benarous","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Fran\u00e7ois","family":"Vonthron","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"David","family":"Cohen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,4,9]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","volume-title":"Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders","year":"2013"},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"21","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rasd.2015.06.011","article-title":"Autism spectrum disorders: an historical synthesis and a multidimensional assessment toward a tailored therapeutic program","volume":"18","author":"Xavier","year":"2015","journal-title":"Res Autism Spect Disord."},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"Cd009260","DOI":"10.1002\/14651858.CD009260.pub3","article-title":"Early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) for young children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD)","volume":"5","author":"Reichow","year":"2018","journal-title":"Cochrane Database Syst Rev."},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"387","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cpr.2010.01.008","article-title":"Applied behavior analytic intervention for autism in early childhood: meta-analysis, meta-regression and dose-response meta-analysis of multiple outcomes","volume":"30","author":"Viru\u00e9s-Ortega","year":"2010","journal-title":"Clin Psychol Rev."},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"978","DOI":"10.1007\/s10803-010-1041-8","article-title":"Early start denver model for young children with autism: promoting language, learning and engagement","volume":"41","author":"Rogers","year":"2011","journal-title":"J Autism Dev Disord."},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e3755","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0003755","article-title":"Behavioural and developmental interventions for autism spectrum disorder: a clinical systematic review","volume":"3","author":"Ospina","year":"2008","journal-title":"PLoS ONE."},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"940","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cpr.2013.07.005","article-title":"The TEACCH program for children and adults with autism: a meta-analysis of intervention studies","volume":"33","author":"Virues-Ortega","year":"2013","journal-title":"Clin Psychol Rev."},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"17","DOI":"10.2174\/15748847113086660071","article-title":"Non-pharmacological treatments in autism spectrum disorders: an overview on early interventions for pre-schoolers","volume":"9","author":"Narzisi","year":"2014","journal-title":"Curr Clin Pharmacol."},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5","DOI":"10.1016\/S0890-8567(99)80002-1","article-title":"Practice parameters for the assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and adults with mental retardation and comorbid mental disorders. 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