Music Therapy for Children with Developmental and Special Needs

What is Music Therapy?

Music therapy is not music lessons. A music therapist uses music experiences to work on non-musical goals, such as taking turns, making eye contact, imitating sounds, following directions, moving with better coordination, or expressing feelings. Your child does not need any musical ability.

Sessions may include improvising together on drums or keyboard, songs that build routines or teach words, rhythm-based movement, and songwriting with older children. Sessions can be one-on-one, in groups, at home, in clinics, in hospitals (including NICUs), or at school.

The American Music Therapy Association defines music therapy as the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship, by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.

Who is it for?

Who provides it?

Look for a board-certified music therapist (MT-BC), a credential awarded by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT) after an approved degree program, supervised clinical training, and a national exam. Illinois created a music therapy license under the Music Therapy Licensing and Practice Act, signed in May 2022, and licensure is administered by IDFPR. It requires passing the CBMT board certification exam. Music teachers, volunteers, or 'music for wellness' programs can be enjoyable but are not music therapy.

What do families and practitioners report?

Families often say music reaches their child in ways other therapies do not: a child who rarely speaks may sing, or a child who struggles with transitions may follow a song. Parents report more engagement, joy, and willingness to interact. Music therapists point out that music is motivating, predictable, and can support many goals at once.

Does it work? What the research says

The best summary is the 2022 Cochrane review 'Music therapy for autistic people' (26 studies, 1,165 participants). Right after treatment, music therapy was probably linked to a higher chance of global improvement, slightly better quality of life, and lower overall autism symptom severity (moderate-certainty evidence). It found no clear difference for social interaction, nonverbal communication, or verbal communication (low- to very-low-certainty evidence). Longer-term effects are not well studied.

The largest single trial, TIME-A (JAMA, 2017, 364 autistic children ages 4 to 7 in nine countries), found that adding improvisational music therapy to standard care did not improve social affect symptoms or parent-rated social responsiveness over 5 months. The 2020 NCAEP autism report listed music-mediated intervention, which includes music therapy, as an evidence-based practice based on seven studies.

Is it covered by insurance in Illinois?

Coverage varies. Some commercial insurers and some Medicaid waiver programs cover music therapy, but many plans do not, so families often pay out of pocket or use grants. Music therapy is not specifically named in the Illinois autism insurance law. Under the federal special education law (IDEA), the list of related services is not exhaustive, and the American Music Therapy Association notes that the U.S. Department of Education has recognized music therapy as a possible related service. An IEP team can add it if your child needs it to benefit from their education. IDEA Part C's list of early intervention services is also not exhaustive.

What to consider and ask

• Confirm the therapist is MT-BC and, in Illinois, licensed through IDFPR.
• Set specific non-music goals, such as more words, turn-taking, or calmer transitions.
• Ask how progress is measured and shared with you and the rest of your child's team.
• Consider whether your child is especially motivated by music, which may help engagement.
• Ask about group versus individual sessions and which fits your child's goals.
• If you want it at school, ask the IEP team about a music therapy assessment.