Rapport scientifique: bénéfices de la musicothérapie pour les personnes ayant des troubles du spectre de l’autisme

• Gepner Bruno
• Scotto Di Rinaldi Stéphane

• Autism spectrum disorder ASD
• Music therapy
• Children
• Adolescents
• Adults

This Scientific Report entitled Benefits of music therapy for people with autism spectrum disorders aimed to analyze some of the vast literature on music therapy for children/adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorders since the 1950s, with a particular focus on studies using controlled procedures published between 2008 and 2020. We searched for articles in French and English on PubMed, Psycinfo, ProQuest, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Journal of Music Therapy with the keywords "autism", "autism spectrum disorder", "music therapy", "children", "adolescents", "adults". We found around 150 articles, from which we selected 1) controlled and/or randomized studies of sufficient level of evidence published between 2006 and 2020), 2) meta-analyses and previous reviews on MT with ASD children, 3) a few well-documented single or multiple case studies with ASD adults, and 4) well-conducted studies when they shed significant light on the sensory-motor, emotional and cognitive functioning of ASD children in relation to music. A growing number of studies carried out over the past two decades have shown that music therapy (MT) treats and improves the primary disorders of children and adults with ASD, i.e. their difficulties with social communication and interaction, as well as secondary disorders (stress, anxiety, mood disorders, inappropriate behavior). Although the level of evidence for the efficacy of MT for children with ASD is still low to moderate (with the exception of one study with a high level of evidence), it is superior to that of all other therapeutic interventions for this population, and no side effects have so far been observed with MT. Despite the very small number of studies conducted in adulthood, encouraging results have been observed in adults with ASD. MT should already be considered a therapy in its own right, using music as an alternative and augmentative tool for mediation, communication and interaction, with convincing effects in reducing emotional and behavioral disorders in the ASD population. This report could help to bridge the gap between science and practice in the field of music therapy for the ASD population, in France and elsewhere. Future recommendations for good practice should incorporate the use of music therapy with children with ASD. Further studies are needed for adults.