Listening to the spectrum: Exploring music preferences and associations in autism spectrum disorder compared with neurotypical communities on Reddit

Existing research lacks insight into music associations and preferences among individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in real-world settings. This study analyzes 701 Reddit posts from r/Autism and r/Aspergers, comparing them with neurotypical (NT) discussions in r/Music and r/LetsTalkMusic. Using topic modeling and thematic analysis, 12 NT topics and 15 ASD topics were identified. NT individuals focused on themes like the cultural and social impact of music and economic and industry trends, while autistic individuals emphasized therapeutic use of music, diverse music preferences, and music as an identity. Genre analysis showed both groups preferred rock in the intense category, but autistic individuals had a higher representation of metal, likely for sensory load regulation. In the valence-arousal (VA) space, NT individuals preferred rock in high-arousal quadrants, whereas autistic individuals had a broader emotional range, balancing pop and rock. Lyric theme analysis revealed that while both groups resonated with emotional turmoil and conflict, autistic individuals showed a stronger preference for love and connection. These findings highlight the need for personalized music-based interventions, leveraging diverse genres and themes to cater to the unique preferences and therapeutic needs of autistic individuals.