Abstract:

Objective To synthesize evidence from systematic reviews on the positive impacts of music interventions on the functioning, health and development of children and adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Methods Literature was searched across databases including PubMed, EBSCO, PsycINFO, Embase, Web of Science and CNKI, focusing on high-quality systematic reviews published from January, 2014 to March, 2024. These reviews examined the functioning, health and developmental benefits of music interventions (including therapy and education) for children and adolescents with IDD.

Results Eight English systematic reviews were included, involving 5 308 children and adolescents with IDD, from China, France, Spain, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom; mainly from journals in the fields of music therapy, children and adolescents psychiatry, educational psychology, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and health psychology, mainly published between 2018 and 2023. The music therapy interventions mainly included music education interventions, improvisation music therapy (creation and performance), interactive music therapy (music and movement), mixed music therapy (including singing, dancing and drama), auditory-motor mapping training, family music therapy and melody-based communication therapy; involving basic music theory learning, music gesture and language training, music appreciation, improvisation, music ensemble, music cooperative games, etc; ten to 90 minutes a time, one to five times a week, for one to 32 weeks. In terms of cognitive development, music education interventions were beneficial for improving attention in children and adolescents with IDD. In terms of psycholinguistic skills, music therapy could significantly improve the articulation and language abilities of children and adolescents with ASD, especially phonological memory, word and sentence comprehension; and language and communication skills of children and adolescents with IDD, and enhance oral expression abilities. Music could also help improve behavioral disorders, including improving physical coordination, reducing repetitive behaviors and controlling hyperactive behaviors. In terms of music education performance, music therapy could improve amiliarity with song rhythm and melody, phoneme discrimination, mastering songs and lyrics, and enhance music rhythm perception of children and adolescents with IDD. In addition, music therapy also promoted social and emotional development, improved prosocial behavior and social skills, helped reduce anxiety, enhance emotional control, improve social skills and self-esteem, increase positive emotions, and strengthen communication and cooperation with peers and teachers.

Conclusion Music intervention has a positive impact on the function, health and development of children and adolescents with IDD, which is reflected in cognitive development, psycholinguistic skills, motor skills, music education performance, and children and adolescents' social and emotional development.

Key words: intellectual and developmental disabilities, children, adolescents, music intervention, music education, systematic review