They may have abilities beyond that which a parent can know that can improve the youngster's self-esteem greatly. In addition, some children with High-Functioning Autism and Asperger's are fairly quiet, non-talkative individuals - but can communicate very well through their singing voice.
Humming or singing is a common type of vocal stimming. It can be a way for individuals with ASD to regulate their sensory input and cope with the overwhelming environment around them. They may hum or sing a favorite song repeatedly, or create their own tunes.
Dance can be a major resource for children with autism, especially those who are nonverbal. Dance uses the body as a way of communicating instead of the use of words. Depending on the movement, the body can tell a story that the child might not be able to express any other way.
From time to time, we all might have repetitive vocal behaviors. You might, for example, hum a few lines of a familiar song while concentrating or relaxing. However, people with autism typically stim more often and with more intensity because their stims have a purpose and meaning to them.
It is suggested that making noises themselves may help to compete with or drown out another distracting noise. Another reason a child may make constant noises could simply be that humming, singing, talking, or making other sounds is calming and self-regulating for their nervous systems.
Additionally, children with hyperactive-impulsive ADHD exhibit an inability to control impulses. They are often singing or talking to themselves and struggle to participate in quiet activities.
The Music and Communication Connection
Individuals with autism also show equal or superior abilities in pitch processing, labeling emotions in music, and musical preference compared to typically developing peers.
Understanding the musical abilities of the autistic brain also may point to potential therapies. In a recent study of musical abilities, Dr. Stanutz found that children with autism performed better than typically developing children in musical games that tested their pitch discrimination and music memory.
Children with autism often sound different from other people. Some may speak in a flat, monotone voice; others may use unusual modulation or stress different words or parts of words in their speech; and some may speak at an increased volume.
Sound sensitivity — also known as hyperacusis — is common in autistic people. Some noises might make you uncomfortable, especially loud or shrill noises, but many people are sensitive to quieter sounds, too. While some noises annoy everyone, some autistic people may react very strongly to certain sounds.
Savants with autism typically show amazing skill within one or more general ability domains. Mathematical, artistic, musical, spatial and mechanical abilities are most common. Most savants have a single skills but some have been reported to have more than one.
This study interviewed 9 autistic people and found that all had listening difficulties. The loudness of background noises, and the number of people talking, affected their ability to listen, as did other sights, smells, thoughts, and feelings.
Piano As Outlet For Autism
If you have an autistic child, one outlet for their expression may be music at the piano. I have found that these children adore both the sound and the musical theory behind the piano. My most recent student, who has autism, is practically the definition of childhood musical genius.
Level 1 is the mildest, or “highest functioning” form of autism, which includes those who would have previously been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. Individuals with ASD level 1 may have difficulty understanding social cues and may struggle to form and maintain personal relationships.
It's important to note that just because a toddler may exhibit some signs of autism, it does not necessarily mean they have autism. Some toddlers may show delays in communication or socialization due to other factors such as hearing loss, language barriers, or even simply being introverted.
We do know that children with autism don't always naturally generalise skills. They may only follow instructions the person who normally gives them or they may only follow them in the situation where it normally occurs.
The speech of many children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) appears abnormal and is often described as machine-like, “monotonic,” or “sing-song.” These abnormalities of voice and speech were already noted in early descriptions of ASD (Kanner, 1943), but their exact characteristics and the underlying mechanisms, as ...
That's because spoken language involves more than the use of words; we vary our pitch, loudness, tempo, and rhythm in our speech in order to convey different meanings. These changes are called "prosody," and people with autism often find prosody difficult to hear, understand, or reproduce.
Many people with high-functioning autism have unusually intense emotional reactions when compared to their peers. For example, a frustrating experience like spilling coffee on their shirt or taking the wrong turn on the way to work can cause irritability and difficulty concentrating for the rest of their day.
Memorising and learning information quickly. Thinking and learning in a visual way. Logical thinking ability. May excel (if able) in academic areas such as science, engineering and mathematics as they are technical and logical subjects that do not heavily rely on social interaction.
“Our research on vocal imitation suggests something similar: Autistic participants performed better on imitating the structure of a tune (relative pitch) than they did on the exact form (absolute pitch).” And this has significance when thinking about music in a broad cultural sense.
“Some people with autism have exceptional abilities in five categories: calendar calculation, mathematics, art, music and mechanical skills,” she says. “Research now says that one in 10 people with autism has a special skill, but there is a range in the degree of these abilities.”
By letting your child play with a child on the autism spectrum, you could very well be helping them build life skills that they will carry with them forever. And, finally, consider the impact that something as simple as a play date can have, not only on the autistic child, but on their family as well.
Calming music such as “Brahms' Lullaby” and “Canon in D” by Johann Pachelbel. This type of music has been shown to reduce anxiety and stress in both typically developing children and children with ASD.