The Effect of a Single Music Listening Intervention on Cognitive Performances in Adolescents with Visual Impairments

A substantial body of research has confirmed delayed cognitive development in adolescents with visual impairments, as well as the effectiveness of music intervention in enhancing cognition among various populations. The aim of the current study was to assess how a single music listening intervention affects cognitive performances in adolescents with visual impairments. The current study is a within-subjects repeated-measures design. Fifteen adolescents with congenital severe visual impairment participated in the present study, and they underwent two sessions: the experimental session consisted of a single 30-min music listening (with preferred music); whereas, the control session was conducted without listening to music. Cognitive performances (attention and information processing speed; working memory; executive functions) and mood state were randomly assessed both before and immediately after either the music intervention or the silence intervention. All cognitive data improved significantly (p < 0.001) after listening to music. Moreover, music intervention has the potential to significantly (p < 0.001) improve five out of six mood ratios of the Quick Mood Scale questionnaire. Therefore, a 30-min single music listening intervention (with preferred music) was effective to enhance cognitive (non-executive and executive) performances in adolescents with visual impairments and such improvement may be linked to the mood enhancement.