Just returned from the National Conference of the American Music Therapy Association in Atlanta, GA. Here I presented my poster entitled “Musical Imitation and Non-Verbal Children with Autism”. I got some nice feedback concerning inter-rater reliability and additional inquiries as to weather girls imitated better than boys or if performances were better with pitch versus rhythm. This poster presented a pilot study that looked at 4 children (aged 4-11, three boys and one girl); a larger sample size would be needed to be more conclusive to broach some of these questions, however my initial findings in terms of ability to imitate musical sounds with voice and a musical instruments, when imitation is otherwise impaired, shows that these children with autism have the ability to imitate through music. Next would come larger sample followed by a comparative study looking at the role of imitation with other forms stimuli (non-musical of course). There is a lot more to consider!
I do plan to publish this pilot study – the manuscript is set to be finished sometime in the Spring 2012.
Reference:
Demaine, K. (2011). Musical imitation and non-verbal children with autism. Poster Presentation, American Music Therapy Association National Conference, Atlanta, GA
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