The effect of training with rhythmic auditory timing on the memory of the blind

The blind rely heavily on the auditory senses for tasks due to lack of visual information and to compensate for this disorder, they make compensatory improvements in attention and auditory memory, therefore, the development of auditory memory is very important for theme. Using rhythmic auditory timing is one of the new types of rehabilitation interventions and it’s an advanced neuropsychological music therapy that uses timing and timed cues to enhance auditory memory.The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of training with auditory rhythmic timing on memory of blinds.The method of this study is quasi-experimental. ۲۰ congenital blind teenagers (Age: ۱۴±۳), voluntary and after consent, were assigned into experimental group (n=۱۰) and control group (n=۱۰) randomly. Subjects participated in Wechsler spatial memory tests before and after the exercises for short-term memory measurement. The experimental group practiced for six weeks, three sessions per week and ۲۰ minutes each session. This groups walked in a ۱۰-m walkway synchronizing their steps to metronome beats set %۱۰ above individual comfortable cadence and participants responded to external auditory stimuli by adjusting to the auditory rhythm. The control group did not follow any targeted exercise during this time. For data analysis, analysis of covariance was performed using SPSS software version ۲۱ at significance level ۰.۰۵.Results showed that the auditory rhythmic exercise period caused a significant change in reversible memory subtests (P = ۰.۰۳) and total scoring memory of the blind (P = ۰.۰۳۵).Rhythmic listening practice using selective attention mechanisms increase perception, increase the speed of consolidation and recall of perceived stimuli, and enhance memory. According to cheapness, simplicity and usability of this type of practice at any time and place it can be used as a cognitive rehabilitation method for the blind.

کلیدواژه ها:

Blind ، Memory ، Audio tuned timing ، Selective attention