| The purpose of this study was to examine whether the presence of Sound HealthRTM music created by Advanced Brain Technologies RTM, would increase the occurrence of joint visual attention (JVA) behaviors in children with autism by way of decreasing self stimulatory (SS) behaviors. A within subjects, repeated measures quasi experimental design across participants was implemented in order to examine the effect of the independent variable, music (level 1: no music; level 2: presence of music), on the dependent variables of JVA behaviors and SS behaviors. Data was obtained for each participant during two phases of the pilot study and during the main study. Paired samples t-tests were run to assess the difference in frequency of JVA and SS behaviors between the no music and music conditions. Participants were 6 children; 2 females and 4 males with a mean age of 7 years; 4 months. Children were chosen by convenience sampling and matched on the frequency that they displayed JVA behaviors. All sessions were video--recorded. Baseline data of the frequency of both JVA and SS behaviors was gathered, followed by data of the frequency of JVA and SS behaviors within the music condition. Pretest/postest difference scores were used to measure changes in the frequency of JVA and SS behaviors between the no music and music conditions. There was not an increase in JVA behaviors within the music condition as predicted; however there was a statistically significant decrease in SS behaviors within the music condition. Thus, incorporating Sound HealthRTM music into the treatment setting is a promising strategy in decreasing self stimulatory behaviors in children with autism. |
