Music Therapy for the Autistic Child was first published in 1978, and was the first book of its kind to analyse the effect of music therapy on the whole development of the autistic child. It contained detailed accounts of the music therapy techniques found to be effective with different types of autistic children, and it illustrated these with case-studies drawn from the author's original research.

This second edition retains all the text of the first and adds three new chapters, reflecting the depth of research music therapy has received over the last ten years and its important position within the whole therapy of autistic children. Written by Auriel Warwick, herself a music therapist and student of Juliette Alvin, these chapters describe how mothers can be involved with their autistic children in the therapeutic process, and illustrate the problems and rewards found in the musical and
personal relationships which evolve.