Soundscape augmentation as a nonpharmacological intervention to reduce the behavioural effect of dementia: a randomized controlled trial

Soundscape is an important environmental factor that influences people's behaviour and well-being. People with dementia can benefit from a personalized soundscape to improve the behavioural and psychological syndrome of dementia. This paper is based on a single-blind, repeated-measure pilot randomized clinical trial of soundscape augmentation on the treatment effect of people with severe dementia. Participants were randomized to a personalized soundscape intervention delivered in their room in the morning and evening or treatment-as-usual, with two baseline weeks and four weekly post-randomization assessments of the primary and secondary behavioural outcomes. A linear mixed effects model showed that the soundscape intervention was possible and acceptable. There were improvements in the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (resistance to care) and a significant reduction in aggression in the soundscape group. This study is the first pilot randomized controlled trial of a soundscape intervention for older adults with dementia to improve the behavioural and psychological syndrome of dementia. In this pilot study, soundscape augmentation was a feasible and effective non-pharmacological approach to reducing resistance and improving participants' behaviour. Further studies with larger samples are recommended to confirm our findings. Longitudinal studies are necessary to investigate the long-term effect of an augmented sonic environment on people with dementia.