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To ascertain whether improvisational music therapy is beneficial and has lasting effects in real-world settings, investigators randomized 364 children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in a 1:1:2 allocation to receive thrice-weekly, once-weekly, or no music therapy for 5 months. The cohort was 83% male and had a mean age of 5 years (range, 4–7).
Music sessions lasted 30 minutes; were provided in homes, schools, or clinics; and could include family members. All participants had three 60-minute counseling sessions and could begin or continue any other therapeutic modalities except music. Music groups attended a median of 58 therapy sessions (music sessions, 19), and controls attended a median of 48 sessions.
On the primary outcome measure of …