Affective relations and the autistic spectrum disorder: two case reports in music therapy

Abstract

This paper presents the report of music therapy interventions for two children early diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). During the initial sessions the infants demonstrated attachment relationships to their caregivers, evidenced by the constant search for the mother’s lap, during the interventions. Such behavior impaired the therapist-patient bond establishment, making the outlined music therapy goals unfeasible. The music therapy approaches and techniques used to overcome this challenge, as well the importance of the music therapist’s actions to building a therapeutic alliance are described. The Music Development of Children with Autism (MUDECA) scale was applied to monitor these patients. However, the gradual and substantial improvement of these infants regarding the ability to engage with the music therapist, engage with objects, engage with musical instruments, attention and interest, simultaneously occurred to the “detachment” process from mother figure inside the therapeutic room. In short, the present study supports that people with autism spectrum disorders, even at an early age, are able to build affectional ties. In turn, such relationships are peculiars and with potential influence on their daily activities.