Concerto in ASD: Classical Music on Increasing the Attention Span of Teenagers with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder, also known as ASD, is a mental health disorder which affects one in thirty-six children in the United States. Characterized by the inability to focus, difficulties with social interactions, and short attention span, ASD thus has a negative impact on school performance for many teenagers diagnosed with this disorder. The purpose of this study was to see whether classical music, a form of stimulus which, according to prior research, was found to enhance the cognitive function of individuals, could potentially act as a catalyst for increased attention span in teenagers with ASD. This study hypothesized that classical music would increase the attention span and recurrence of on-task behavior of teenagers with ASD in the classroom setting. A mixed-method approach utilizing a questionnaire which employed quantitative four-point Likert scale data and qualitative observations by independent observers was used. This study was conducted on four teenagers diagnosed with ASD to see if classical music did increase their attention span, and both the qualitative and quantitative results seemed to indicate that classical music was indeed effective. Furthermore, the findings also hinted at long-term benefits of playing classical music in the background as teenagers with ASD learned in the classroom setting. Ultimately, the findings did confirm that classical music has a positive effect on increasing the attention span of teenagers with ASD, though it is recommended for more research to be conducted to confirm this positive correlation and see the effects of classical music on teenagers with ASD in the long-term.