The effects of tempo variation and white noise on the general activity level of profoundly retarded adults

Author(s): Sheckart, G. R.

Journal/Book: Journal of Music Therapy. 1985; Silver Spring, Maryland, USA. National Association for Music Therapy 8455 Colesville Rd., Suite 930 20910 Silver Spring, Maryland USA. journal article.

Abstract: Auditory stimulation and its effect upon the behavior of mentally retarded individuals has been an issue in research for some time. The present investigation sought to assess auditory stimulation in more precisely defined terms than previously explored and within the natural living environments of those retarded individuals studied. Four experimental conditions were used: fast tempo, slow tempo, white noise, and a control condition. Overall findings revealed no significant differences between the control and experimental conditions. Further analysis of the data separately for males and females revealed significant treands, with males exhibiting lower levels of activity under white noise conditions and females demonstrating less activity under the control condition. The findings point to a further need to examine specific auditory stimuli within natural living environments.

Keyword(s): tempo, effects, white-noise, activity-level, adult, mental-retardation, developmental-disabilities, auditory-stimulation.

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