Complementary therapies for autism focus on enhancing emotional well-being and providing enjoyable ways to engage.
Music therapy has many benefits for people with ASD. Research shows it can help to improve both verbal and nonverbal communication, enhance social skills (turn-taking, sharing), and improve cognitive skills related to attention, memory, and problem solving. Music therapy may also increase self-esteem, self-expression, and creativity, alongside aiding in emotional regulation.
Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) enhances social interactions, reduces stress, and fosters positive emotions in autistic people. For example, studies show that interacting with therapy animals, such as dogs, can increase communication behaviors like talking, gestures, and eye contact, as well as elicit more positive emotional responses compared with other activities like playing with toys.
AAT is not a primary treatment for autism, but can be a supplemental therapy alongside evidence-based interventions, such as occupational or speech therapy. The effectiveness of animal-assisted interventions can vary depending on the type of animal, therapy structure, and the individual.
Technology-based interventions, including apps and virtual reality, offer innovative ways to teach skills and track progress. Though these interventions are promising, researchers recommend them only as supplemental therapies at this point.
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