This article is the result of a project carried out by Mona Iren Thomassen, student at Rogaland vernepleierhøgskole, Nærbø, Norway*.
Definition:
Vibroacoustic Therapy (VAT) is whole-body excitation by the means of pulsating low frequency sound massage (LFSM). LFSM is obtained by using VAT equipment, in which the client lies or/sits in a bed/chair which has one or more loudspeakers placed as near the body surface of the client as possible. LFSM signals are processed in a special amplifying unit which also contains a compact cassette deck. LFSM signals are a mixture of music and sinusoidal tones in the Vibroacoustic area (30 Hz - 120 Hz).
The project was carried out during 7 weeks in the spring 1993. The student made a questionnaire and did a quantitative study of the incoming answers.
The study was made on 3 - 5 clients who systematically were using Vibroacoustic Therapy (VAT).
Existing literature describes increase in blood circulation, spasmolytic and analgetic effects with specific lung-massaging effects which produces a feeling of
general well-being.
As sound waves penetrate virtually every cell in the body of the client, each and every cell also receives sound vibrations, which massage the cells. This cell-massage may influence the cell metabolism in a way that facilitates the expulsion of metabolic waste products from the cells into the bloodstream or the lymphatic system.
The combination of sinusoidal tones and music are combining the physiological effect of the low-frequency tones and the psychological effect of music - giving VAT a holistic dimension.
VAT can be used alone, or in combination with other therapies. It is necessary that the therapists using the equipment has got proper education within their
therapeutic field as a basis for special courses in using VAT equipment.
The criterion for the diagnosis "early infantile autism" is:
Autistic children seem to like solitude better than company, and have difficulties in understanding the difference between persons, animals and objects.
We can find autism in combination with many disorders, such as deafness, blindness, development handicaps, MBD, psychosocial under-stimulation,
Rett syndrome and infantile depression.
Earlier research on the effect of VAT on autistic clients have shown that the clients were more ready to accept skin contact - because they were so occupied concentrating on testing out the new experiences which came from the bed/chair. For autists it seems that the choice of music is more important that the choice of frequencies. One begins with instrumental music, and can gradually - over various time periods - move to vocal music for eventually in the final stages of therapy only use the voice and touch of the therapist.
Early onset (< 30 months), marked deviations in social communication, marked deviations in linguistic communication - including understanding of language symbols and/or body language -, and deviations in the capability of verbal and non verbal expression; specific ritualistic behaviour, strange routines or extremely deviating playing. Abnormal responses on sensory stimuli, strange reaction os sound, light, pain, touch, cold and heat may also be a criterion.
1) The use of technical aids (Wheel-chair, glasses, hearing aids etc)
2) Pedagogical aids (Books, adapted pencils, substitute symbol languages such as Bliss, pictograms etc.)
3) The use of stable staff in order to give the children as safe and stable, harmonic environment as possible. This to enable the child to develop stable social relations.
To-day several other strategies are tried,- from the use of computers to using VAT.
Table 1
SOME VARIABLES OBSERVED IN THIS STUDY
* 1 observation states that the mood of the client often changes from positive to negative during VAT, and the effects will often remain for some time. The exact duration is not noted.
DESCRIPTION OF CLIENTS
Client # 1
Female. 14 years. Diagnosis : Rett syndrome, psychotic autist. Epilepsy (Grand mal type). At first sceptic to VAT. After 1 1/2 years of VAT the therapy is received very positively. Receives VAT 3 times per week. Frequencies : 40 - 60 Hz. Music : Enya. Aim of VAT : Relaxation and stimulation.
Results:
General positive effect of VAT. Best effect on respiration and eye contact. No increase of epileptic seizures. Self- stimulation is somewhat reduced. No effect on body movement and communication. No negative effect observed.
Client # 2
Male. 8 years. Functional deafness and blindness. Secondary autism. Has received VAT for 1 1/2 years. Frequency of use : Over 3 times per week. Duration of sessions : 23 minutes. Choice of music: Calm, melodic music with vocal elements. Amplitude : High.
VAT is used as a means of sensory stimulation and for relaxation. He explores the vibrations in the chair with all parts of his body and shows marked joy, surprise and well-being.
Results:
General well-being and concentration has increased markedly. The sleep pattern is the only parameter which has shown no change. His mood changes from negative to positive during VAT, and the effect lasts for some time afterwards, but the duration has not been noted.
Client # 3
Male. 14 years. Diagnosis : Primary infantile autism. Has received VAT for 2 years. Duration of sessions : 30 minutes. Receives VAT 3 times per week. Amplitude: Middle range. Choice of frequencies : 40 - 60 Hz. Choice of music : Enya.
Results:
When he is in the chair he has increased calmness and reduced body tensions. The effects last for a while afterwards, but the exact duration has not been noted. He uses the chair for relaxation purposes, and often falls asleep during therapy. General well-being has increased. Concentration, eye contact, skin contact and cooperation teacher/pupil have increased. There is no effect on self-stimulation. General reaction pattern has not changed.
Client # 4
Male. 12 years. Diagnosis: Autistoform behaviour. A-verbal. Uses sign language for communication. Has received VAT for 1 1/2 years. Duration of session: 25 minutes. Receives VAT 2 times per week. Amplitude : Middle range. Choice of frequencies: 40 - 60 Hz. Choice of music : Vocal music. Aim of therapy : Relaxation.
Results:
Increase of general well-being. Concentration, skin contact tolerance/acceptance of nearness has increased. Improved cooperation between teacher and pupil. Improved sleep pattern. Self stimulating behaviour has decreased during therapy, but there is no observed change in self-stimulating behaviour beyond the therapy situation.
The positive changes in behaviour have appeared gradually during the course of therapy.
VAT is but one of several activities, and it is difficult to evaluate which of the elements have effect on the boy.
COMMENTS
The best effect was obtained with music with clear melodic themes and vocal elements. This increases Skille's postulate that the choice of music is more important than the choice of frequencies when one is using VAT for autistic patients.
No patients have the same reaction to a single therapy tape. VAT is not used together with communication exercises or movement patterning, as is used in other institutions. The carry-over affect to other areas is positive.
Autists have difficulty in relaxing, and general in the capability to relax must be learned. Client # 2 has had the most marked improvement in this area. The observations of increased general well-being in all clients, is in it self good enough reason for VAT being used in the treatment of autists. Observations of reduced bodily tensions after VAT confirm the relaxing effects on tense muscles and muscle groups.
The most marked effect of VAT is found on concentration, eye contact and body (skin) contact (ability to accept closeness) and cooperation between teacher and pupil. This shows that VAT is a good working tool for therapists working with autists, who have general difficulty in accepting body contact, meeting the eyes of other persons and participate in social cooperation. Increase of these functions, will often lead to better accessibility for other forms for therapy, and may thus lead to better general functions.
In the beginning all pupils were sceptical for using the chair. Gradually scepticism changed to safety and comfort, and they now go to VAT with pleasure.
CONCLUDING REMARKS:
The process of writing this article has been very interesting for both authors, because we have tried to describe some of the fields in which we can observe change in autistic clients' behaviour when they are exposed to VAT. The descriptions in known literature on VAT and autism has been too general, and has not explained in which fields of behaviour one can expect to find the most noticeable changes. The effect on concentration, body contact and co-operation are areas, in which the autists most often show abnormal behaviour. The described effect of VAT demonstrates that we here have one way to go when trying to open doors in order to get access to the closed world of the autist. VAT is not THE method for treating autists, but it is one important tool which can be used by therapists and families who are working to help autistic children expand their world of experience.
* this study was created in 1983, since then profound improvement was made to purify the frequencies and as result effected positively, treating people with autism.
The Olav Skille frequency solution for autism include VAM and regular music that are integrated with the frequencies in order to trigger multi-sensor input and diversified attention of " blocked unpredicted autism mind".