MUSIC FOR autistic children AND EMOTIONAL CONNECTION

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MusicConnectingMoments.com

A division of intellectualsoftware.org

Music connecting memory

Music connecting mind

Scott Blumenthal

Channel Islands Harbor CA.

Nashville Tennessee

scott@musicconnectingmoments.com

For those concerned,

A common thread that was brought to my attention is the emotional connection that young boys with autism have with music. For instance, a 13-year-old boy with autism in Texas connects with the moment by blurting out a big loud laugh. At that same moment, the stand-in singer does a big loud inhale snort on the record. “I love the way she snores.” This connection links him to moments in time.

I have also witnessed a student who, during the same song at the phrase “I love the way she snores,” entered a quiet room flailing his arms and yelling, clearly not connected to reality. However, when he heard the song’s snort, it brought him back to reality for just a few moments. He went from happy and playful to staring at the corners of his rolling bed, becoming quiet, focused, and connected until he left the room. This demonstrates the power of music therapy in creating moments of reality for him. Most American families have a family member who snores, and many siblings tease adults about it. Perhaps the autistic child connects snoring with a happy time and seeks to check in with reality for a moment.

What if we take 10 seconds before the funny snort and play it over again? Would the student be more connected, anticipating the snoring for longer periods and thus connecting with reality more effectively?

Is it possible that a child with autism hears snoring in the household—something not uncommon in many families—and reacts to it with laughter? This could create an emotional connection to reality, influenced by the humorous reactions about snoring shared among family members.