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Intellectual disability (ID) is assumed to be a dynamic phenomenon influenced by personal and environmental factors. During the 18 months of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, most day centers remained open for adults with ID who lived with their families (most of them with severe/profound [S/P] ID) but were closed to those who lived in group homes (with moderate and mild ID). Owing to the fewer participants in day centers, adults with S/P ID received more hours of therapy than before the pandemic. Using a functional screening tool, functional and environmental changes were mapped and discussed in team meetings. As expected, the pandemic caused environmental and personnel changes that affected all groups. The moderate (n= 29) and mild (n= 31) groups deteriorated over the 18 months of the study, especially the senior ones. However, the functional state of the S/P group (n= 16) improved. These results support the understanding that ID is truly dynamic throughout the lifespan. Functional improvements for S/P ID can occur during adulthood with intense and individually adapted interventions.

Balance problems have been found among 57% of adults with Intellectual Developmental Disorder (IDD). Moreover, these adults have only partially participated in conventional activity programs. There is a clear need for new interventions that will enhance these individuals’ interest and motivation toward improving their balance skills. Virtual gaming training experiences are a promising prospect in that regard. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of virtual reality games on improving balance for adults with IDD. We recruited 31 individuals with mild-moderate IDD who had fallen at least twice in the year prior to initiating this intervention, and we evaluated these participants using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. The participants were randomly assigned to control and experimental groups, and only the latter group took part in a series of twelve 30-minute bi-weekly virtual game sessions, designed to improve balance using the SeeMe virtual game system. We found significant (p <.001) pre-post improvements in balance abilities in the experimental group and no significant pre-post change in the control group (p <.77). These data suggest that virtual game technology is a viable tool for improving balance among adults with IDD.

Neurological degeneration associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD) affects the verbal as well as the nonverbal communicative potential of individuals diagnosed with PD. Communicating with significant others is crucial to quality of life and maintaining healthy and satisfying relationships. Evidence indicates that Music Therapy (MT) improves communication in a range of neurologically impaired populations; however there is no research that has studied its effect on the facial expressions of PD patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of group music therapy on facial expression in individuals with PD.

AbstractRett syndrome (RS) is a neurodevelopmental syndrome characterized by arrested brain development. The disorder is caused by a faulty gene on the X chromosome, mainly affecting females. The syndrome usually manifests itself through vast clinical impairments in functional abilities, including motor ones. According to different studies, only 50%–75% of all affected females will achieve walking abi\xadlity, and some will lose this ability later in life. The benefits of living a physically active life both for handicapped and non-handicapped individuals have been vastly described in the literature. As the life expectancy of individuals with RS is around 50 years of age and because of the medical and functional difficulties accompanying this syndrome, it is extremely important that the person with RS will have a continuous active lifestyle from a young age. Several case studies have described the re-gaining of lost walking ability, aside from the achievements of gait, in this population because of intensive intervention. The present article explores the benefits of walking for this population and describes a person with RS who regained her walking ability at the age of 28 because of an intensive and comprehensive program after being in a wheelchair for over 5 years. The present case study supports the existing literature and calls for health-related professionals working with this population to implement similar programs with individuals with RS because of the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle for all human beings, especially those with disabilities.

Music and physical therapy (dual intervention approach) with individuals with Rett syndrome was initiated as a result of the complexity and challenging features this disorder encompasses. Rett syndrome is a genetic disorder affecting mainly females. Due to its debilitating characteristics, physical activity and physical therapy is highly recommended, although typically disliked by this population. Music therapy has long been suggested as a preferred therapy intervention, highly effective and greatly loved by the Rett syndrome population. In order to address the Rett patients' physical and medical needs and at the same time take into consideration their emotional and communicative needs, thus maintaining a broad perspective and a better quality treatment, the dual treatment program of music and physical therapy was introduced. This intervention approach has enabled both therapists to raise the physical requirements of the patient without the threat of the patient rejecting the therapy program. At the same time the dual approach proved effective in improving the child's communication skills. This paper will present a dual music and physical intervention approach and its application in one case example of a child with Rett syndrome. A video of this case example can be viewed on the NJMTwebsite: www.njmt.no

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerativa disorder where patients exhibit impairments in speech production. Few studies have investigated the influence of music interventions on vocal abilities of individuals with PD. Objectives: To evaluate the influence of a group voice and singing intervention on speech, singing, and depressive symptoms in individuals with PD. Methods: Ten patients diagnosed with PD participated in this one-group, repeated measures design study. Participants received the sixty-minute intervention, in a small group setting once a week for 20 consecutive weeks. Speech and singing quality were acoustically analyzed using a KayPentax Multi-Dimensional Voice Program™, voice ability using the Voice Handicap Index (VHI), and depressive symptoms using the Montgomery and Åsberq Depression rating scale (MADRS), Measures were taken at baseline (Time 1), after 10 weeks of weekly sessions (Time 2). and after 20 weeks of weekly sessions (Time 3). Results: Significant changes were observed for five of the six singing quality outcomes at Time 2 and 3, as well as voice range and the VHI physical subscale at Time 3. No significant changes were found for speaking quality or depressive symptom outcomes; however, there was an absence of decline on speaking quality outcomes over the intervention period. Conclusions: Significant improvements in singing quality and voice range, coupled with the absence of decline in speaking quality support group singing as a promising intervention for persons with PD. A two-group randomized control study is needed to determine whether the intervention contributes to maintenance of speaking quality in persons with PD.