Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects approximately one in 68 children, substantially affecting the child’s ability to acquire social skills. The application of effective interventions to facilitate and develop social skills is essential due to the lifelong impact that social skills may have on independence and functioning. Research indicates that music therapy can
improve social outcomes in children with ASD. Outcome measures are primarily assessed using
standardized nonmusical scales of social functioning from the parent or clinician perspective.
Certified music therapists may also assess musical engagement and outcomes as a part of the
individual’s profile. These measures provide an assessment of the individual’s social functioning
within the music therapy session and generalizability to nonmusical settingsmusic therapy social outcomes autism