Utilizing Music in Speech and Language Therapy for Preschool Children and Children with Autism: A Systematic Review

This thesis was conducted as a systematic review. A systematic review is an assessment and evaluation of current research that attempts to answer a clinical question. The purpose of this systematic review was to attempt to answer the following clinical question: Are there high-quality studies that document the effectiveness of using music in speech and language therapy with preschool aged children and children with autism? This review also attempted to identify future research implications and needs. Nine studies were reviewed and critiqued; six preschool based studies and three autism based studies. Results indicated a general positive change in speech and language outcomes when music is incorporated into speech and language therapy. However, future research needs to be conducted by professionals in the communication disorders field using well designed studies and relevant outcomes to ensure evidence based practice is used among practicing clinicians.