Date of Award
5-2026
Culminating Project Type
Starred Paper
Styleguide
apa
Degree Name
Special Education: M.S.
Department
Special Education
College
School of Education
First Advisor
Brian J Valentini
Second Advisor
Bradley J Kaffar
Third Advisor
Sarah S Schaefer
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Keywords and Subject Headings
Keywords: autism spectrum disorder, music-based interventions, expressive communication, nonverbal students, special education
Abstract
Abstract
The purpose of this literature review was to investigate how music-based interventions impact expressive communication skills in nonspeaking autistic students between the ages of 5–12 in school-based environments. Communication difficulties are a core deficit observed in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), often restricting students’ ability to participate academically and socially at school. Because many students with ASD are nonspeaking learners who do not fully respond to speech-based interventions, music interventions have been explored as one possible avenue to promote students’ communication development. Peer-reviewed articles published between 2005 and 2025 were searched in academic databases. Fifteen studies that used music-based interventions with autistic children were chosen for inclusion in this literature review. The reviewed articles indicated that music-based interventions consisting of singing familiar songs, moving to rhythm, playing instruments, call and response imitation, and musical improvisation correlated with increased early communication behaviors, including joint attention, engagement, imitation, and reciprocity. Increases in spoken language were not observed; however, research shows that music interventions promoted skills students need before they can communicate expressively. This suggests that music-based strategies may be beneficial in classrooms to provide communication opportunities for nonspeaking autistic students.
Recommended Citation
Donley, Jacquelyn, "Music Interventions and Their Relationship to Communication Development in Autism: A Comprehensive Review" (2026). Culminating Projects in Special Education. 240.
https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/sped_etds/240
