A comparison of singing, vibrotactile and nonvibrotactile instrumental playing responses in severely regressed persons with dementia of the Alzheimer's type

Author(s): Bernstein, Barry

Journal/Book: Journal of Music Therapy. 1990; 27: 119-125.

Abstract: Compared the durations of vibrotactile responses (VRs), nonvibrotactile responses (NVRs), and singing in 6 severely regressed males (aged 62-73 yrs) with dementia of the Alzheimer's type. Ss participated in a 4-session pilot test and in 10 subsequent experimental testing sessions. Each session was videotaped. Data reveal that VRs lasted significantly longer than NVRs. Only 1 of the 6 Ss sang, and his singing participation decreased as his dementia progressed. This S's VRs and NVRs lasted significantly longer than his singing responses. ABSTRACT 2: The purpose of this study was to compare the durations of vibrotactile response, and singing in a sample of severely regressed persons with dementia of the Alzheimer's type. Six male subjects who ranged in age from 62 to 73 years participated individually in a four-session pilot test and 10 subsequent experimental testing sessions. Each session was videotaped and the 10 sessions were later evaluated for the durations of (vibrotactile response, defined as drum playing with the drum held in the subject's lap, (b) nonvibrotactile response, defined as drum playing with the drum held in fron of the subject, and (c) singing. A t-test revealed a significant difference between durations of vibrotactile and nonvibrotactile responses (p< .05). Mean scores showed the vibrotactile responses were of longer duration. In addition, only one subject of the six sang, and his singing participation decreased as his dementia progressed. A t test computed to compare the difference between his durations of singing and composite drum playing was significant (p<.0005). Means scores for this subject indicated longer durations for drum playing.

Note: music therapy; vibrotactile vs nonvibrotactile instrument playing responses vs singing; severely regressed 62 73 yr old males with dementia of Alzheimer's type

Keyword(s): Music therapy; vocalization ; alzheimers disease; responses ; aged ; vibration ; tactual stimulation; adulthood; comparison, singing, vibration, tactile, instrument, music-performance, dementia, alzheimer's-disease

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