Active music making for patients with unilateral spatial neglect in the subacute stage of stroke
Date
2020
Authors
Leeman, Kirsten, author
Knight, Andrew, advisor
LaGasse, Blythe, committee member
Witt, Jessica, committee member
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Abstract
Unilateral neglect is the decreased awareness of events or items in the contralesional side of space, on the opposite side of the brain affected by a stroke. This study examined the effect of a music therapy procedure on the severity of unilateral spatial neglect in patients in the subacute stage of stroke. Three individuals were recruited from a large Midwestern hospital to participate in this study, all with a presentation of left neglect. One functional assessment (Kessler Foundation Neglect Assessment Process) was completed at admission and discharge to measure severity of neglect during activities of daily living. Two written assessments (Line Bisection Test and Line Cancellation Test) were administered at the start and end of each music therapy session to examine any immediate effects. During each session, patients were asked to hit a paddle drum gradually moved from the non-neglected side of space (right) toward the neglected side of space (left) over the course of every four beats. Patients then completed musical sequences on resonator bells following a descending pattern, also directed right to left. Results showed inconsistent performance between and within sessions for all participants on the Line Bisection Test. Written performance varied for two participants on the Line Cancellation Test, while one participant showed no change from the second treatment session through hospital discharge. These preliminary findings support further exploration into the use of musical instruments as a possible intervention for neglect, though future research involving larger sample sizes or a control group is needed.
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Subject
rehabilitation
stroke
unilateral neglect
spatial neglect
music therapy
therapy