A CASE STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF MUSIC SENSIMOTOR INTEGRATION THERAPY ON THE SPEECH AND DEVELOPMENT OF A BOY WITH AUTISTIC SPECTRUM DISORDER

Abstract

Abstract: Sensorimotor Integration Therapy (SMITh) is a Czech neurorehabilitation approach used to treat children with severe communication disorders. For the needs of music therapy practice and for the purpose of research validation of the effectiveness of SMITh, a musical modification of this approach was created. This case study is one of the first research investigations to validate the effect of SMITh (with musical modification) on the speech and development of children with autism spectrum disorders. A single-case study design with instrumental measurement (via DLP LENA) and other methods for descriptive and narrative data analysis was applied to a three-year-old boy with autism and other developmental challenges. This case study found that SMITh had no effect on the quantitative increase in the boy's verbal production or his conversational exchanges with his parents, but during the intervention there was an increase in the first words he began to use functionally. There were also improvements in speech comprehension, attention, and self-care. Further research on the effects of SMITh on speech and other functions in children with developmental disorders requires an improved study design. For research and clinical practice, we recommend maintaining the musical modification of SMITh, which positively stimulates children's motivation during training.