Tests music therapy for autistic children aged 7 to 11
Tests improvised music sessions added to usual care for autistic children.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Autism - Children's Improvisational Music Therapy Evaluation
Key facts
- Where
- Cambridge, United KingdomSee the 2 sites
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 7 and 11 years old?
Source: NCT06016621, who can take part
Where in United Kingdom
- Anglia Ruskin UniversityCambridge, United KingdomTaking people
- Autism Research CentreCambridge, United KingdomTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Prof Simon Baron-Cohen
- Trial code
- NCT06016621
- Record updated
- 25 March 2025
- Original description
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of individual sessions of improvisational music therapy for autistic children aged 7 - 11.Read full original descriptionShow less
A Randomised Controlled Trial on the Effectiveness of Improvisational Music Therapy for Autistic Children Aged 7 - 11 [Autism-CHIME Trial].
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of individual sessions of improvisational music therapy for autistic children aged 7 - 11.
Researchers will compare the impact of adding improvisational music therapy to usual care alone for autistic children over a 12-week period.
Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the following two conditions: the Improvisational Music Therapy (intervention) Group or the support as usual (control) Group.
The aim is to achieve seven overarching objectives:
1. To determine whether 12 weeks of individual sessions of improvisational music therapy in addition to support as usual is superior to support as usual alone in improving social communication in autistic children. 2. To examine whether 12 weeks of individual sessions of improvisational music therapy in addition to support as usual is superior to support as usual alone in improving communication skills in autistic children. 3. To examine whether 12 weeks of individual sessions of improvisational music therapy in addition to support as usual is superior to support as usual alone in reducing psychosocial problems in autistic children. 4. To examine whether 12 weeks of individual sessions of improvisational music therapy in addition to support as usual is superior to support as usual alone in improving wellbeing of autistic children. 5. To examine whether 12 weeks of individual sessions of improvisational music therapy in addition to support as usual is superior to support as usual alone in improving adaptive functioning in autistic children. 6. To examine whether 12 weeks of individual sessions of improvisational music therapy in addition to support as usual is superior to support as usual alone in improving anxiety in autistic children. 7. To examine whether the therapeutic relationship predicts the development of social, communication and language skills among autistic children.
Inclusion: Aged 7 to 11 years; A clinical diagnosis of autism made by a qualified professional according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 10th Revision criteria. Confirmed by a copy of the clinical report detailing the diagnosis (if available) or verified verbally by the child's parents; Parents/guardians must give informed consent for their children to be enrolled in the trial; Parents/guardians must be willing for the music therapy sessions and BOSCC assessments to be video recorded for monitoring and research purpose; Participants must be willing to attend two music therapy sessions per week for the duration of the trial; Non-verbal children may be included.
Exclusion: Received regular individual music therapy in the preceding year as this would be likely to have a strong influence on the course of therapy; Severe hearing deficit as this would alter the aim, course, and implementation of therapy; Caregivers that are unable to attend for the psychological assessments with their child; Caregivers without a basic understanding of English.