If your autistic child doesn’t like singing you are not alone. In this article we explain why that may be the case and if you should worry.

Before we dive into autism and singing it is always worth mentioning that every child is different.

Although we pull together common traits it is always important to treat your child as an individual.

Autism and singing

Typically with autistic children, singing can go one of two ways. Either the child is extremely fond of it, to the point of it almost becoming a repetitive behaviour or they are against it entirely.

Here are some possible reasons why your child may be reluctant to sing;

Sensory processing

Autistic children often have sensory sensitivities. This means that they see, hear and feel the world slightly differently to the neuro-typical.

If you think about it, singing involves a lot of sensory input, especially if they are singing along to music.

The child would be required to use their voice, listen to the music, and even feel the vibrations of their vocal cords.

Even the feeling of taking deep breaths to facilitate the singing could feel unsettling.

If your child is hypersensitive to such inputs then it may be that the entire process is uncomfortable and they would rather not.

Social interaction

Singing requires a certain level of social interaction.

In a lot of cases, singing is a group activity that involves others, such as classmates, teachers, or family members.

For some autistic children, social interaction can be challenging.

They may struggle with understanding social cues or nonverbal communication. Additionally they may struggle expressing themselves in a social setting.

Singing with others can be especially difficult if they feel self-conscious or anxious about their singing ability or being around other people.

The pressure to perform or the fear of being judged by others may cause them to avoid singing altogether.

Communication struggles

This suggestion is more on the obvious side but still worthy of mention.

Many autistic children may have difficulty with communication as a whole.

As a result, they may have difficulty with the language and concepts of songs.

Lyrics can be complex and understanding what is being said may be a challenge.

Many songs use metaphorical language and figures of speech which can sometimes confuse autistic children.

This can lead to frustration and confusion, which may cause them to disengage from singing.

Another factor may be that your child is just getting to grips with speech and they can’t keep up with lyrics.

Speaking from experience, this was the case with our daughter in that she seemed like she wanted to sing more than she actually did.

It was almost like the words were two or three beats ahead of her so she would get frustrated and stop.

Some autistic children may have a language delay therefore which affects their ability to communicate verbally.

This can make singing challenging, as obviously it requires verbal abilities. They may struggle with pronouncing words or expressing themselves through song.

This can be frustrating for them and may cause them to avoid singing.

Other interests

Autistic children may have particular interests or fixations that they prefer to engage in, which can lead to a disinterest in singing.

These interests may be very specific, such as a fascination with numbers or trains, and they may disregard the concept of singing.

Autistic children may prefer to spend their time engaging in activities related to their interests, rather than singing, which they may find boring or irrelevant.

It may be therefore that your child has a fixed interest which provides them the structure and predicability they desire.

If that is the case then it is easy to understand their logic of not bothering singing.

Summary – Autistic child doesn’t like singing

There are many reasons why an autistic child might not like singing. Sensory input and communication difficulties may contribute to a child’s disinterest.

It is important for parents and teachers to be aware of these challenges and to provide support and understanding.

By creating a safe and supportive environment, autistic children can develop their talents and interests, including singing, at their own pace and in their own way.