Sensory Hand Drums for Autism Spectrum and Sensory Processing Disorders: Development and Application
Date of Award
Summer 6-24-2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Kinesiology (EdD)
Department
Kinesiology
First Advisor
Matthew Buns
Second Advisor
Stephanie Hamilton
Third Advisor
Eric LaMott
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is determined by certain delays in social interactions, motor coordination, cognitive brain functioning, and other behavior issues. A common symptom that children with ASD have is known as sensory processing disorder (SPD), which is conducive to difficulties with interpreting and processing sensory input. There are studies that have determined that music and rhythms therapies have benefited this population in several ways including social interactions and cognitive brain functioning. This study focused on designing a sensory drum as a resource tool for special education teachers, music and occupational therapists to incorporate that would allow for multiple sensory inputs while playing the drum. There were two repurposed drums used as idea models provided to nine evaluators from a local middle school. The evaluators provided positive feedback for the overall design concepts and implementations in multiple settings. From this feedback a final design was created with different materials incorporated into the drum that would provide varying sensations. The concept for using a sensory drum comes from combining the physicality and motor coordination of drumming and the cognitive learning of the music and rhythm patterns.