Abstract:

Language disorder represents one of the core symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorders. It is of great importance for children with autism to improve their verbal expression. Some previous studies found that musical intervention has positive effects on the verbal expression in children with autism. There are two types of the intervention materials including music matching with words as stimuli and music as a learning background. Both of interventions can improve the verbal expression of children with autism. The representatives of music interventions include Auditory-Motor Mapping Training (AMMT), Melodic Based Communication Therapy (MBCT) and background music intervention. It remains to be resolved as to the choice of music style and the combination of music with other activities as well as its applicability of different groups of children with autism.

Key words: music, language, children with autism, communication deficits, music intervention