3D Printing: The Effect of Adapted Mallets on the Participation of Children with Severe and Multiple Disabilities

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the changes in two measures of participation for a small sample of children with severe and multiple disabilities when using adapted mallets for instruments. The two measures of participation were: decibel level (dB) and frequency of sound produced. Three children between the ages of 5 and 11 years old participated in a single music therapy session testing four different popular adapted mallets, and a control mallet. A 3D-printed mallet grip was among the adapted mallets and was customized to the individual’s hand contour. The sessions tested all five mallets in random order on the each of the three children. Although no noticeable pattern of preference was found for any type of mallet grip, the data indicated that across all the subjects, they produced the lowest dB level and the least frequency of sounds on the control mallet. The results show that there are different preferences for each individual child based on the material and design, not just the hand contour. There are several implications for future research on customizing the 3D-printed adaptive grips to not only their hand contour but the material and design preferences of each child to further increase their participation in music making.