Music therapy compensatory technique utilizing song lyrics during dressing to promote independence in a patient with brain injury

Author(s): traumatic, brain, injury.

Journal/Book: Music Therapy Perspectives. 1991; 9: Silver Spring, Maryland, USA. National Association for Music Therapy. 87-97.

Abstract: Decreased abilities in the areas of initiation, sequencing, and motor-planning are residual deficits resulting from traumatic brain injury which can reduce an individual's independence and ability to perform daily tasks such as dressing, grooming, and bathing. The interdisciplinary treatment approach described herein has shown promise within an acute rehabilitation environment for ameliorating these deficits. The technique provided auditory cues in the form of cong lyrics within a musical framework. The interchangeable lyrics, sung by the music therapist, comprised one and two-stage commands and freed the occupational therapy staff from providing assistance to the patient. The compensatory technique was used until the patient's cognitive abilities for memory and recall for the sequential steps for dressing improved. ABSTRACT 2: Describes an interdisciplinary treatment approach within an acute rehabilitation environment for increasing traumatic brain-injured patients' abilities with initiation, sequencing, and motor planning. The technique provides auditory cues in the form of song lyrics within a musical framework to facilitate dressing. The interchangeable lyrics, sung by the music therapist, comprise 1- and 2-stage commands and free the occupational therapist or certified occupational therapy assistant to provide any required physical assistance. This compensatory technique was used until the patients' (a 29-yr-old man and a 14-yr-old girl) cognitive abilities for memory and recall of the sequential steps for dressing improved. The goal of the program was to increase independence through improvements in the stated areas, which are measured by decreased dressing completion times and caregiver involvement.

Keyword(s): Occupational therapy; music therapy; self care skills; caregivers ; brain damaged; interdisciplinary treatment approach; adulthood, brain-injury, brain-damage, cues, songs, lyric, compensation, self-care-skills, self-help-programs, independence, daily-living-skills.

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