Sound Therapy

 One thing that happens with people on the autistic spectrum is the tendency to put themselves into the corner of a room. By standing in the corner (s)he feels safer because of the protection of the walls around them and the opportunity to watch the rest of the room. We found this when working with groups in village halls and more definitely when we used a large room for the Magic Train project which involved children with autistic spectrum disorders.

If someone is given the opportunity to be in their own space whilst able to observe what’s going on in the rest of the room we’ve found that eventually (s)he will take part in something or everything that’s on offer. The time that takes can be short or it can be weeks before anything happens. D, a member of the Music Gym, spent 10 visits standing at the side holding a soft, inflatable ball then on week 11 he stepped into the Soundbeam area and started using the equipment. This has been the most dramatic example but not the only one. It happens on a regular basis that new members go through this process of having their own area and working out from that.

When we planned the music gym we therefore thought it important to have as much available space as possible. We also try to engage people but not in a forceful way, by being friendly then leaving them alone until they feel ready to engage.

The space is not completely open. We’re aware that members with autistic spectrum disorders may also need “time out”. One our gazebos faces away from the rest of the room onto a relaxing watery image projected onto the wall. The other gazebo contains the Soundbeam and is an interactive sensory space, but it offers an opportunity to sit and watch what’s going on outside.