Novel Screening Tool and Considerations for Music Therapists Serving Autistic Individuals via Telehealth: Qualitative Results from a Survey of Clinicians' Experiences.

Researchers surveyed 192 music therapists about their experiences providing online music therapy to autistic people during COVID-19. They found both benefits and challenges with telehealth music therapy. The study helped create a screening tool to help therapists decide which autistic individuals might do well with online music therapy sessions.

This qualitative survey study examined 192 music therapists' experiences providing telehealth services to autistic individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using content analysis of open-ended responses, researchers identified seven themes regarding benefits and challenges of online music therapy for autistic clients. The study aimed to understand factors that facilitated or hindered engagement in telehealth music therapy sessions. Based on these findings, the researchers developed a screening tool to help music therapists assess whether autistic individuals are suitable candidates for telehealth services and optimize care delivery for those who can benefit from remote music therapy interventions.

The study provides preliminary guidance for music therapists considering telehealth delivery for autistic clients. The screening tool may help optimize service delivery decisions, though validation is needed. Findings suggest telehealth music therapy has both benefits and challenges that require careful consideration.

The abstract does not specify the seven themes identified, details about the screening tool, or participant characteristics. Sample representativeness and generalizability beyond North American contexts are unclear. No validation data for the screening tool is provided.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, music therapists transitioned services from in-person to telehealth due to health and safety concerns. Though online delivery of music therapy services for autistic individuals occurred prior to 2020, the number of North American music therapists using telehealth with autistic clients rose substantially during the pandemic. The current paper's objective was to delineate music therapists' perceptions regarding factors that helped or hindered autistic persons' engagement in online music therapy sessions. In total, 192 participants completed the survey.

Qualitative content analysis of an open-ended question identified seven overarching themes regarding the benefits and challenges of telehealth music therapy for autistic clients. Findings were used to create a screening tool to help music therapists evaluate autistic persons' suitability for telehealth and meet the needs of those who can benefit from telehealth music therapy.