Factors Influencing Music Therapists' Retention of Clinical Hours with Autistic Clients over Telehealth During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study looked at how music therapists kept working with autistic clients online during COVID-19. They asked 193 music therapists about their experiences. The main finding was that therapists who used a specific approach called Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) were better able to keep their sessions going compared to those who didn't use this method. Overall, therapists had positive views about providing music therapy online.

This survey study examined factors that enabled music therapists to maintain services for autistic clients during COVID-19 telehealth transitions. Researchers surveyed 193 accredited music therapists primarily from Canada and the US to identify what helped retain clinical hours during the pandemic. The study found that music therapists generally held positive perceptions of telehealth music therapy. Notably, therapists practicing Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) experienced significantly less reduction in clinical hours with autistic clients compared to those not using NMT protocols.

No significant differences were found based on employment setting or client age groups served. The structured protocols and transformation design model of NMT appeared to facilitate better adaptation to telehealth delivery.

Structured therapeutic protocols like NMT may facilitate better telehealth adaptation for autism services. Training in systematic approaches could improve service continuity during disruptions. Positive therapist perceptions suggest telehealth music therapy may be a viable service delivery option worth further development and research.

Single survey study with potential selection bias. Limited to therapists primarily from Canada and US. Cross-sectional design prevents causal inferences. Sample size and response rate not clearly reported. Self-reported data may be subject to recall bias.

The 2019 coronavirus disease pandemic influenced music therapists to migrate services to online platforms, though some lost clinical hours during the pandemic when telehealth was not a viable option. This survey study aimed to ascertain factors that helped music-based therapists to continue serving autistic clients over telehealth during the pandemic. We surveyed 193 accredited music therapists located mainly in Canada and the US. In addition to gathering data on general perceptions of telehealth music therapy and Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT), one-way ANOVAs were applied to determine differences in percent-change loss of clinical hours for music therapists: (1) working in different employment settings; (2) serving children, youth, adults, or a mixture of ages; and (3) practicing NMT or not.

The general perception of telehealth music therapy was positive, and NMTs believed that the clear protocols and transformation design model were helpful to them in adapting services to telehealth. There were no significant differences in percent-change of clinical hours among music therapists in different employment settings or serving different client age groups. Music therapists who said they practiced within the NMT treatment model lost a significantly lower percentage of clinical hours with autistic clients than those who did not practice NMT. Possible reasons for this result and the need for further research are discussed.