What does movement have to do with attention span in children with ASD?

From the archives: January 2025

One challenge researchers have is obtaining large sample sizes for their studies.  This has historically been true, especially in music therapy, but what is most important is that those doing research continue to do so.  More research is always needed!

This particular study was interesting to me as a Neurologic Music Therapy Fellow (NMT-F) as it looks at how children with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) could improve their attention span by having better motor skills.  I work with several children with ASD and I am hearing more and more about how those with ASD are challenged when it comes to motor movement.  What is even more exciting is that I know or have been in seminars with several of the researchers and do respect their work and findings.  This particular study does involve online therapy or teleheath, which is a term that became more widely known and used during the 2019 COVID Pandemic.  Telehealth does involve having parents and/or caretakers involved in the patient’s treatment.  Anyone with caretaking responsibilities knows that their involvement in the treatment and care of the individual they are caring for is vital.

As mentioned above, the sample size or number of participants (only 5) was small for this pilot study, but the results were still positive.  The children ranged in age from 5 to 10 years of age and participated in 9 sessions supported by caregivers/parents, a supply of instruments and multiple therapists working in various roles.  While the focus was to see if NMT techniques specifically done in an online environment (telehealth) could make a difference, the outcome showed improvement in motor skills between a pre-test and post-test given before and after the therapy sessions.  Unfortunately the attention span results were not as positive as researchers felt the attention span tasks were too difficult or challenging to the children.  Nonetheless, researchers and parents/caregivers saw the study as a positive brief look at how NMT techniques could assist with motor movement as mentioned above.

What do we take away from this information?  One would be that if the same study can be done at a later time with more children using similar format and that the results may be the same or different.  Another way to look at the results of this small study is that while attention span did not necessarily improve, using telehealth as a treatment modality is not a lost cause.  I hope that this particular study will be replicated in the future and will be anxious to learn of the follow-up study results.

For more information on music therapy, visit our website at www.centralohiomusictherapy.com or the American Music Therapy Association’s website at www.musictherapy.org.  You can also visit the Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy at https://nmtacademy.co/.

Stephanie H. Morris, MM, LPMT, MT-BC

Neurologic Music Therapy Fellow

Central Ohio Music Therapy, LLC

Richard Williams N, Hurt-Thaut C, Brian J, Tremblay L, Pranjic M, Teich J, Tan M, Jowaleski J and Thaut M (2024).  Improved motor skills in autistic children after three weeks of neurologic music therapy via telehealth: a pilot study. Front. Psychol. 15:1355942. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1355942