Comparison Between Neuroscience- and DIRFloortime®-Informed Approaches Within Music Therapy: A Descriptive Case Study

Abstract Music therapists practice from different clinical approaches; however, these approaches have not been compared in a research study. The purpose of this descriptive case study was to examine differences in behaviors for one participant on the autism spectrum and their therapist practicing from two different clinical approaches. We examined five videos where treatment was delivered in a neuroscience-informed approach and five videos in a DIRFloortime®-informed approach. We used observational behavioral coding for three nonmusical social skill behaviors, three musical social skill behaviors, and four therapist behaviors. We also examined the presence of critical elements of each approach within the videos. Results indicated that the therapist overall showed the critical elements for each approach within the examined videos. Targeted participant social behaviors were present in each of the approaches; however, the manner in which they were facilitated was different. Descriptive statistics and visual analysis were used to show similarities and differences between the approaches. Further studies are needed to explore different approaches in music therapy clinical practice.