The effect of singing on alert responses in persons with late stage dementia

Journal/Book: J Music Therapy. 1996; 33: 505 11TH St Se, Washington, DC 20003. Natl Assn Music Ther Inc. 234-247.

Abstract: Twenty-six persons with late stage dementia living in residential care homes, who were no longer ambulatory and who no longer had discernible language were selected to participate in this study. The investigator met each subject individually, after obtaining permission to do so from legal guardians, for a series of sessions that were scheduled at the same time and place for 40 minutes on each of four sequential days. Each session consisted of randomly ordered, 2-minute segments of the investigator reading the newspaper; singing unaccompanied familiar songs, and sitting in silence. The subject was videotaped during all session. Tapes were later analyzed through an interval recording data collection method to determine whether individuals displayed alert responses as defined by head and eye movements, limb movements, changes in facial expressions, and vocalizations. Data were analyzed to compare the number of alert responses during the three conditions; reading, singing, and silence. Results indicated that alert responses were most frequent during singing, with alert responses during reading being the next most frequent. While there was no statistically significant difference between the number of responses during singing and reading, the number of alert responses during silence was significantly lower than for the other conditions. Additionally, responses during all conditions tended to increase over time from the first through the fourth experimental sessions. This study has implications for music therapists and others who wish to use singing as a stimulus for responses in persons who are in the late stages of dementia. First, persons are likely to respond to singing, even if they make little or no response to other stimulation. Response to singing is not contingent upon instrumental accompaniment. Therefore, any caregiver can use singing to encourage responses. Second, persons who are relatively nonresponsive in an initial session may grow in their response activity over time. Therefore, activities which are designed to foster responses should occur over a series of sessions to allow for latency periods. Though the subject sample in this study was small, and generalization to other persons with late stage dementia is guarded, there is indication that singing is a viable source of stimulation for those who have severe dementia and are generally unresponsive. Singing may therefore be an important component of programs designed to provide for life quality through stimulation.

Note: Article Clair AA, Univ Kansas, Div Mus Educ & Mus Therapy, Colmery Oneill Vet Affairs Med Ctr, 311 Bailey Hall, Lawrence,KS 66045 USA

Keyword(s): ALZHEIMERS TYPE

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