The Effect of Music-Based Blended Environment on the Development of Motor Skills in Children with Autism: A Quasi-Experimental Study

The use of integrated interventions in autistic children is expanding. Autistic childrenchr('39')s interest in music and their ability to understand it can be effective in therapeutic interventions. This study aimed to determine the effect of a music-based integrated environment on motor development skills in autistic children.

This quasi-experimental study was of pretest-posttest control group design. Subjects were selected by convenience sampling method from among children with autism at Rozaneh Autism Center in Hamadan in 2019 and were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. A total of 15 autistic children formed the intervention group, while 15 autistic children formed the control group. The experimental group performed a 12-week exercise program with music and the control group performed only a 12-week exercise program. Data were collected using a demographic form, a Lincoln-Oseretsky developmental motor scale. Independent t-test and ANCOVA test were used to measure the effect of music intervention.

It was found that the Lincoln-Oseretsky mean score in the intervention group in post-test was significantly higher than the pre-test (p<0.05).

Overall, it was concluded that the music-based blended environment can be effective in the development of motor skills in children with autism. Therefore, blended intervention including music along with other therapies can lead to useful results in improving the performance of children with autism.