TRAINING CONTINGENCY AWARENESS THROUGH AN INTERACTIVE AUGMENTED

Abstract

Objective: Children and youth with profound and multiple disabilities are often unable to interact with their immediate surroundings and control relevant stimuli due to their limited response (motor) repertoire. As a result, their development of contingency awareness, that is the understanding of cause and effect, is delayed or absent. Music has been used as both stimulation and reward to establish and promote constructive responses and reduce problem behaviours in children. Virtual Music Instrument developed by Bloorview PRISM Lab removes the barrier posed by traditional music instruments for the children with disabilities. This study investigates whether or not contingency awareness can be acquired after intensive training with an interactive augmented environment, and how such awareness will be manifested both physically and physiologically. Method: Four subjects with inconsistent contingency awareness will undergo 20-30 music therapy sessions (3 times/week) with the Virtual Music Instrument facilitated by a music therapist. Video and physiological data will be recorded every session. Each session is 30 minutes in length, divided into 5 min intro, 10 min assessment, 10 min training and 5 min closing periods. The music therapist will guide the participants through specific interactions with music, and will monitor and evaluate their progress. We will use the captured physiological signals and retrospective video review to determine whether or not there is a change in the duration and frequency of self-initiated activations, as indicators of progress towards consistent contingency awareness Result: The result is pending. Conclusion: This study allows us to determine whether or not music therapy with the Virtual Music Instrument is a suitable tool for contingency awareness training in the children with profound and multiple disabilities. The goal is that the participants acquire and demonstrate knowledge of cause-and-effect. If successful, the Virtual Music Instrument can be integrated into a music therapy training curriculum in the hospital, school or home environment. Consistent awareness of contingency will foster behaviours that either produce an environmental consequence or elicit reinforcing stimuli. This is the first step toward social interaction. Both children and adults can have more positive social-emotional benefits as a result.