The Effectiveness of Self-Instruction and Neurological Music Therapy on Executive Functioning in adult traumatic brain injury

Combined Self-Instruction and Neurological Music Therapy This study aims to see how group-based interventions utilising neurological music therapy and combined self-instruction with neurological music therapy affect executive functioning in people with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury. Participants will be placed in small groups of 4 to 6 people. Groups will receive either a Neurological Music Therapy intervention, or an intervention combining Self-Instruction training and Neurological Music Therapy. The interventions will involve two one-hour group sessions each week for 5 weeks, for a total of 10 sessions. In the neurological music therapy intervention, each session will include an overview of drumming practices around the world, drumming basics, beat selection, and structured practice. In the combined self-instruction and neurological music therapy intervention, the sessions will include learning about executive functioning and practicing self-talk strategies, such as utilising verbal self-commands to redirect behaviour. Participants will also practice their verbal self commands while playing hand-drums. The same trained facilitator will deliver each intervention in order to minimise the differences in delivery and mitigate the risk of variability in facilitator skill levels affecting study outcomes. Attendance will be taken at each session, to monitor intervention adherence. Once the sessions are finished, participants will do a post-intervention assessment, to see if anything has changed with their executive functioning skills. They will be given feedback and the opportunity to discuss their results with the team.