Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects
Department
Communication Sciences and Disorders
Document Type
Thesis
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is defined by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association as a developmental disability that causes problems with social skills and communication. The principle objective of this case study was to determine whether or not listening to music affects the social behaviors of a child with ASD. In addition, this study sought to determine if listening to different types of music caused a difference in the social behaviors of the child. Two types of music, nursery rhymes and classical instrumental, were used and four specific social behaviors; eye contact, joint attention, facial expressions, and attention seeking; were examined. Five minutes of listening to music was implemented at the beginning of each therapy session. The two musical types were alternated monthly over a semester of therapy. This study could have implications for future use of music in the treatment of social behaviors in children with ASD.
Advisor(s) or Committee Chair
Dr. Lloyd Moore
Disciplines
Communication
Recommended Citation
Weinzapfel, Rachel, "The Effect of Music on the Social Behavior of a Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder" (2011). Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects. Paper 313.
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/stu_hon_theses/313