The effects of Orff music therapy on social skills in children with autism spectrum disorder

Music therapy demonstrates efficacy in enhancing social participation among individuals with ASD. This study investigated the impact of Orff Music Therapy on social skills in 4-6-year-old children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from Orff Music Therapy perspective. Conducted at a rehabilitation institution in China, the research enrolled 21 children with mild ASD who were randomly assigned to experimental (EG, n = 11) or control groups (CG, n = 10). Throughout the intervention period, only EG received the Orff Music Therapy program. Before and after the intervention (Orff music therapy), Autism Social Skills Scale (ASSS) - a Chinese instrument that has been locally validated, was used to assess the social skills of the two groups of ASD patients, including five subscales: social trends, social cognition, social participation, social communication, and self-regulation. Results indicated marked improvements in the EG, with significant changes observed across three subscales: social communication, social participation, and self-regulation. These findings indicate that Orff Music Therapy confers certain benefits in enhancing social functioning among children with ASD.