Pasiali Varvara, LaGasse A Blythe, Penn Saundra L
Queens University of Charlotte Colorado State University Queens University of Charlotte
Queens University of Charlotte Colorado State University Queens University of Charlotte.
J Music Ther. 2014 Winter;51(4):333-54. doi: 10.1093/jmt/thu030.
Given the effect of musical training on the rate and accuracy of processing auditory information, therapeutic uses of music may potentially have remedial benefits for individuals with neurodevelopmental deficits. However, additional studies are needed to establish efficacy of music therapy interventions for attention skills in children/adolescents with neurodevelopmental disabilities including those with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
To establish feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a group music therapy protocol to improve attention skills (sustained, selective, attentional control/switching) in adolescents diagnosed with autism and/or developmental delays.
This single group pretest/posttest study took place in a private school for high functioning adolescents with neurodevelopmental delays. Nine students (4 males, 5 females), ages 13 to 20, participated in the study. Autism severity was assessed using the CARS2-HF and indicated the following distribution for study participants: severe (n = 3), mild (n = 4), or minimal/no (n = 2) symptoms. We assessed feasibility of implementing a 45-min Musical Attention Control Training (MACT) intervention delivered by a board-certified music therapist eight times over 6 weeks in a school setting. We also examined preliminary efficacy of the MACT to improve attention skills using the Test of Everyday Attention for Children (TEA-Ch).
Parental consent rate was 100%. All nine participants successfully completed testing measures and 6 weeks of the intervention. Average participation rate was 97%. Data analysis showed positive trends and improvements on measures of attentional control/switching and selective attention.
The results showed that the intervention and testing measures were feasible to implement and acceptable to the participants who all completed the protocol. Data analysis demonstrated positive trends indicating that more research on the use of music therapy attention training in high-functioning adolescents with neurodevelopmental disabilities is warranted.
鉴于音乐训练对听觉信息处理速度和准确性的影响，音乐疗法可能对患有神经发育缺陷的个体具有潜在的治疗益处。然而，需要更多研究来确定音乐疗法干预对患有神经发育障碍（包括自闭症谱系障碍（ASD））的儿童/青少年注意力技能的疗效。
确定一种团体音乐疗法方案对改善被诊断患有自闭症和/或发育迟缓的青少年注意力技能（持续、选择性、注意力控制/转换）的可行性和初步疗效。
这项单组前测/后测研究在一所针对患有神经发育迟缓的高功能青少年的私立学校进行。9名学生（4名男性，5名女性），年龄在13至20岁之间，参与了该研究。使用CARS2-HF评估自闭症严重程度，结果显示研究参与者的分布如下：重度（n = 3）、轻度（n = 4）或极少/无（n = 2）症状。我们评估了在学校环境中由一名获得董事会认证的音乐治疗师在6周内进行8次、每次45分钟的音乐注意力控制训练（MACT）干预的可行性。我们还使用儿童日常注意力测试（TEA-Ch）检验了MACT改善注意力技能的初步疗效。
家长同意率为100%。所有9名参与者均成功完成测试措施和6周的干预。平均参与率为97%。数据分析显示在注意力控制/转换和选择性注意力测量方面有积极趋势和改善。
结果表明，干预和测试措施对所有完成方案的参与者来说实施可行且可接受。数据分析显示出积极趋势，表明有必要对音乐疗法注意力训练在患有神经发育障碍的高功能青少年中的应用进行更多研究。
