Calming Music Reduces Agitation

For many of us, listening to calming music has just that effect on us: it calms. But we also have other ways to calm ourselves and are generally more in control of our anxiety than those who suffer from learning disabilities. A study published on Nursing Times suggests that calming music may also reduce frustration in those with disabilities as well, helping prevent “disruptive behavior” during mealtimes.

The article is authored jointly by Jeff Hooper, Derek Carson, and Bill Lindsay—all of Dundee. Hooper is a music therapist, Carson works in the division of psychology, and Lindsay is the chair of learning disabilities and forensic psychology.

Mealtimes can be stressful because of noise and proximity to others. For those with learning disabilities, mealtimes may present a more demanding activity. It’s also often more structured than a free living space might be, and the change from music or television to cafeteria noise can be agitating. 

In an attempt to better understand disruptive mealtime behaviors, which tend to be self-injurious, aggressive, and non-cooperative, the authors conducted a study on how listening to calming music would affect these behaviors and whether it would make them more manageable. 

Thirty adults with varying degrees of learning disabilities were delivered calming music via headphones during mealtimes for two days in a row. The first day, half the adults listened to music and the other half did not; the next day, the two groups switched around. Out of those who wore the headphones, only three had disruptive behaviors.

Some participants refused to participate for a variety of reasons, including music choice and not wanting to wear headphones. The authors also admit the sample size was too small to completely understand the effects, but they did note that some participants showed a reduction in disruptive behavior such as physical harm, complaining, verbal repetition, shouting, swearing, restlessness, and vocalizing.