The relationship between soundscapes and challenging behavior: A small-scale intervention study in a healthcare organization for individuals with severe or profound intellectual disabilities

This article evaluates the role of soundscapes in the emotional well-being of individuals with severe or profound intellectual disabilities. Given the high prevalence of visual disabilities in this group, they supposedly depend more on sound to understand their surroundings. Nevertheless, there is little attention for (the effects of) sound in long-term healthcare. To address this issue, we conducted a small-scale intervention study among 13 healthcare professionals with Mobile Soundscape Appraisal and Recording Technology (MoSART: a smartphone application). Pre- and post-test measurements were administered of the emotional well-being (measured as moods and challenging behavior) of 15 clients with intellectual disabilities. Results showed that the MoSART intervention was accompanied by an increased experience of vibrant soundscapes and audibility of human sounds as perceived by the professionals, and a significant decrease of negative moods and severity of stereotypical behavior in the clients.