Pilot Study Evaluates Music Therapy for Attentional Functioning in Autistic Children

A single-session pilot and feasibility trial investigating active music therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder demonstrated immediate pre-to-post improvements in selective attention alongside feasibility for delivering the protocol. The exploratory study assessed immediate changes across multiple attentional domains following an interactive intervention, while also testing the feasibility of accompanying cognitive assessments.

Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder frequently encounter attention difficulties, but empirical evidence evaluating music therapy specifically aimed at attentional functioning has remained limited. To address this gap, researchers designed a feasibility trial to examine whether young participants could complete both an active music session and pre- and post-intervention cognitive testing, while tracking immediate shifts across specific attention domains.

The trial included 20 children between the ages of 6 and 9 years who had a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. Each participant took part in a single 30-minute intervention session consisting of active, interactive instrumental activities performed directly with a therapist. To evaluate attention, examiners administered four subtests of the Test of Everyday Attention for Children immediately before and immediately after the music therapy session.

Protocol delivery proved feasible, with all 20 children completing the 30-minute music therapy session and no intervention-related adverse events reported. During cognitive assessments, participants wore near-infrared spectroscopy headgear, though corresponding physiological analyses were not reported. Fifteen of the 20 participants, or 75 percent, completed all four cognitive subtests at both testing intervals, while three participants, representing 15 percent of the cohort, experienced temporary discomfort associated with the headgear.

Exploratory linear mixed-effects models adjusting for intellectual ability and ADHD-related traits showed pre-to-post gains in selective attention on the Sky Search task (β = −1.60, 95% CI [−2.68, −0.52], p = 0.004). Attention control and switching, measured through Creature Counting, showed less precisely estimated improvements (β = −1.26, 95% CI [−2.46, −0.07], p = 0.039) that remained similar after covariate adjustment, although the 95 percent confidence interval spanned zero in a covariate-adjusted complete-case sensitivity analysis of 15 children. No clear changes were detected in sustained attention or sustained-divided attention.

The investigators concluded that while delivery of the single-session music therapy intervention was feasible, task completion rates and headgear tolerability warrant further attention in future study designs. Because the observed attentional gains remain exploratory, the authors emphasized that controlled trials will be necessary to determine whether music therapy reliably enhances attention and whether any improvements endure over time or generalize to daily life.

Subject of Research: Feasibility and attentional effects of music therapy in children with autism spectrum disorder

Article Title: A pilot and feasibility study of music therapy for attentional functioning in children with autism spectrum disorder

Article References: Kasuya-Ueba, Y., Toichi, M., & Yoshimura, S. (2026). A pilot and feasibility study of music therapy for attentional functioning in children with autism spectrum disorder. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-026-01192-4

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1186/s13034-026-01192-4

Keywords: autism spectrum disorder, music therapy, attentional functioning, selective attention, child psychiatry, feasibility trial, pediatric psychology, pilot, feasibility, music, therapy, attentional