Data_Sheet_1_The clinical effects of Orff music therapy on children with autism spectrum disorder: a comprehensive evaluation.XLSX

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the clinical effects of Orff music therapy on children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) from the perspectives of parents, evaluators, and therapists.
Methods93 children with ASD aged 3–6 years participated in the study. They were divided into an observation group (n = 48) receiving comprehensive rehabilitation intervention including Orff music therapy, and a control group (n = 45) receiving only comprehensive rehabilitation intervention. The Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC), Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), and Psycho-educational Profile-3rd edition (PEP-3) were used for assessments before and after the intervention.
ResultsThere were no significant demographic differences between the two groups. Both groups showed significant improvements in Sensory, Relating, Language, CVP, EL, RL, VMI, AE, SR, and CARS scores at T1, T2, and T3 (T1 vs. T2, T2 vs. T3, T1 vs. T3) (all p < 0.05). The observation group demonstrated significant changes in Body and Object use and FM, while the control group showed some changes in these domains. Social and self-help, GM, CMB, and CVB also significantly improved in both groups after 6 months of intervention (all p < 0.05). In terms of different time intervals, the observation group showed greater improvements in Sensory, Relating, Language, CARS scores, EL, RL, and SR compared to the control group (all p < 0.05). The improvement levels in Body and Object use, CVP, FM, VMI, and AE did not differ significantly between the two groups in the T1–T2 interval, but were significantly higher in the observation group in the T2–T3 and T1–T3 intervals (all p < 0.05). The magnitude of changes in Social and self-help, GM, CMB, and CVB did not differ significantly between the groups.
ConclusionOrff music therapy showed significant improvements in language expression, language comprehension, social skills, cognitive abilities, imitation abilities, emotional expression and fine motor in children with ASD. These findings provide support for the use of Orff music therapy as an effective intervention for children with ASD.

研究目的：本研究旨在从家长、评估者与治疗师的视角，探究奥尔夫音乐疗法（Orff music therapy）对孤独症谱系障碍（Autism Spectrum Disorder，ASD）儿童的临床疗效。
研究方法：本研究共纳入93名3~6岁的孤独症谱系障碍儿童作为研究对象，将其分为观察组（n=48）与对照组（n=45）：观察组接受包含奥尔夫音乐疗法的综合康复干预，对照组仅接受综合康复干预。分别于干预前后采用孤独症行为量表（Autism Behavior Checklist，ABC）、儿童孤独症评定量表（Childhood Autism Rating Scale，CARS）以及心理教育评定量表第三版（Psycho-educational Profile-3rd edition，PEP-3）开展评估。
研究结果：两组受试者的人口学基线资料无显著差异。在T1、T2、T3三个时间点（含组内T1与T2、T2与T3、T1与T3比较），两组的感觉功能、社交互动、语言能力、CVP、EL、RL、VMI、AE、SR及CARS评分均出现显著改善（均p<0.05）。观察组在躯体与物体使用能力、FM维度上的改善更为显著，对照组仅在上述维度出现一定程度的改善；干预6个月后，两组的社会适应与自助能力、GM、CMB及CVB评分均出现显著提升（均p<0.05）。在不同干预阶段的改善幅度对比中，观察组在感觉功能、社交互动、语言能力、CARS评分、EL、RL及SR维度的改善效果显著优于对照组（均p<0.05）。在T1-T2阶段，两组在躯体与物体使用能力、CVP、FM、VMI及AE维度的改善幅度无显著组间差异，但在T2-T3及T1-T3阶段，观察组的改善幅度显著更高（均p<0.05）。两组在社会适应与自助能力、GM、CMB及CVB维度的改善幅度无显著组间差异。
研究结论：奥尔夫音乐疗法可显著改善孤独症谱系障碍儿童的语言表达、语言理解、社交技能、认知能力、模仿能力、情绪表达与精细运动功能。上述研究结果支持奥尔夫音乐疗法可作为孤独症谱系障碍儿童的有效康复干预手段。