Music therapy and music-based support for autistic children: a neurodiversity-informed systematic review and meta-analysis
- 1Xuzhou Kindergarten Teachers College , ,
- 2School of Education Science, Jiangsu Normal University , ,
Abstract
Background: Music-based interventions, including music therapy, are widely used to support autistic children, but reductions on autism-related scales do not fully represent communication, participation, quality of life, or autonomy. We retained clinically interpretable outcomes while using a neurodiversity-informed framework to organize intervention goals and interpretation.
Methods: Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang Data, VIP, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Wiley Online Library, EBSCOhost, and Google Scholar were searched from inception to August 5, 2026. Randomized, quasi-randomized, crossover, and controlled studies involving autistic participants younger than 18 years were eligible. Outcomes were grouped as social communication/interaction, language, adaptive function/participation, quality of life/well-being, and autism-related characteristics and support needs. Positive Hedges’ g values favored the music-based condition. Random-effects models used restricted maximum likelihood estimation and modified Hartung-Knapp inference. Comparator intensity, technique, duration, and parent involvement were examined as exploratory moderators.
Results: Thirty-three independent studies, representing 1,880 participants in the selected quantitative comparisons, were included and contributed at least one outcome. Social communication/interaction showed a significant pooled effect (k = 10, g = 0.64, 95% CI 0.25 to 1.03, p = 0.0046; I² = 59.6%); the primary evidence layer also remained significant (k = 7, g = 0.57, 95% CI 0.02 to 1.12, p = 0.043). Language showed a significant small pooled effect (k = 11, g = 0.32, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.54, p = 0.009; I² = 0%), whereas the primary evidence layer yielded g = 0.19 (95% CI -0.17 to 0.55). Autism-related scale outcomes showed a significant pooled effect (k = 16, g = 1.23, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.53, p < 0.001; I² = 77.0%) and remained significant among studies reporting a reproducible randomization method (k = 6, g = 0.95, 95% CI 0.29 to 1.61). Adaptive function and quality-of-life estimates did not reach statistical significance. No between-group moderator test was significant. Duration was not associated with effect size (β = -0.034 per month, p = 0.552), and Egger’s regression did not detect funnel-plot asymmetry (p = 0.591).
Conclusions: Music-based support produced favorable average effects on social communication/interaction, language, and autism-related scale outcomes.
Related
- A Strength‑Based Neurodiversity‑Affirming Investigation of Digital Interventions for Autistic Children in China: Multi‑Perspective Thematic Analysis With Parents and Therapists
- What are the merits of identifying as neurodivergent? Assessing the effects of neurodiversity labels on the evaluation of and stigmatizing attitudes towards people exhibiting autistic traits.
- The Impact of a Neurocollaborative Theraplay®-Informed Intervention on the Presentations of Developmental Trauma and Attachment Difficulties in a Sub-Group of Autistic Looked after Children: a Retrospective Service Evaluation
- Effects of Repeated Low-Level Red-Light Therapy on Subfoveal Choroidal Thickness in Children with Myopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Effectiveness and Safety of Low-Level Red Light and Short-Wavelength Light Therapy for Myopia Control and Prevention in Children: A Systematic Review
BibTeX
@article{lu2026music,
title = {{Music therapy and music-based support for autistic children: a neurodiversity-informed systematic review and meta-analysis}},
author = {Shanshan Lu and Huimin Feng and Zhidan Wang},
journal = {Frontiers in psychiatry},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1806096},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13690717},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Music therapy and music-based support for autistic children: a neurodiversity-informed systematic review and meta-analysis
AU - Shanshan Lu
AU - Huimin Feng
AU - Zhidan Wang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/09
JO - Frontiers in psychiatry
DO - 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1806096
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13690717
AB - Background: Music-based interventions, including music therapy, are widely used to support autistic children, but reductions on autism-related scales do not fully represent communication, participation, quality of life, or autonomy. We retained clinically interpretable outcomes while using a neurodiversity-informed framework to organize intervention goals and interpretation. Methods: Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang Data, VIP, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Wiley Online Library, EBSCOhost, and Google Scholar were searched from inception to August 5, 2026. Randomized, quasi-randomized, crossover, and controlled studies involving autistic participants younger than 18 years were eligible. Outcomes were grouped as social communication/interaction, language, adaptive function/participation, quality of life/well-being, and autism-related characteristics and support needs. Positive Hedges’ g values favored the music-based condition. Random-effects models used restricted maximum likelihood estimation and modified Hartung-Knapp inference. Comparator intensity, technique, duration, and parent involvement were examined as exploratory moderators. Results: Thirty-three independent studies, representing 1,880 participants in the selected quantitative comparisons, were included and contributed at least one outcome. Social communication/interaction showed a significant pooled effect (k = 10, g = 0.64, 95% CI 0.25 to 1.03, p = 0.0046; I² = 59.6%); the primary evidence layer also remained significant (k = 7, g = 0.57, 95% CI 0.02 to 1.12, p = 0.043). Language showed a significant small pooled effect (k = 11, g = 0.32, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.54, p = 0.009; I² = 0%), whereas the primary evidence layer yielded g = 0.19 (95% CI -0.17 to 0.55). Autism-related scale outcomes showed a significant pooled effect (k = 16, g = 1.23, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.53, p < 0.001; I² = 77.0%) and remained significant among studies reporting a reproducible randomization method (k = 6, g = 0.95, 95% CI 0.29 to 1.61). Adaptive function and quality-of-life estimates did not reach statistical significance. No between-group moderator test was significant. Duration was not associated with effect size (β = -0.034 per month, p = 0.552), and Egger’s regression did not detect funnel-plot asymmetry (p = 0.591). Conclusions: Music-based support produced favorable average effects on social communication/interaction, language, and autism-related scale outcomes.
SN - 1664-0640
ER -