Abstract
ABSTRACT Introduction Patients with tetraplegia due to spinal cord injury often present unique challenges in music therapy as physical limitations can affect their ability to participate in active music-making. People with tetraplegia also face unique challenges related to identity, independence, and activities of daily living. Adaptive technologies can offer increased accessibility of creative expression such as music-making and composition, but they are often underutilized due to a lack of research and of clinician competency in this area. Method This perspective on practice details how a GlassOuse assistive device was used to help a patient with tetraplegia independently create original music on an iPad with the GarageBand app. The patient participated in an average of two music therapy sessions per week during a 4-month admission to an inpatient rehabilitation hospital. The patient gave informed consent for his story to be shared. Results GarageBand, the patient’s personal iPad, and GlassOuse proved to be a powerful combination for facilitating creative self-expression both during sessions and independently during leisure time. These interventions appeared to have a meaningful impact on the patient’s emotional state, sense of self-efficacy, and sense of identity, and eventually provided opportunities for rhythm-based motor tasks. Discussion The music technologies described in this perspective on practice provided access to music-making for a patient with tetraplegia and aided in meeting both functional and psychosocial therapy goals. The clinical efficacy of electronic music composition and the benefit of facilitating independent, out-of-session music activities are considered as areas for further research.
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