The effectiveness of the Interactive Metronome® as a tool to improve selective attention of veterans within their roles in post-secondary education settings in eastern North Carolina

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to measure the effectiveness of the Interactive Metronome specific to improving attention. As veteran enrollment continues to increase in higher education, attention in the classroom and workforce due factors such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) have become an issue. Could veterans who have expressed concern of attention problems benefit from the Interactive Metronome (IM)? Three veteran students and employees from East Carolina University self-identified as having problems with attention and participated in the study. Subjects were given the IM-Home system after meeting with the PI to complete the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), d2 Test of Attention, and learning to use the system. After 15 at-home sessions (4-6 weeks) with the IM, participants retook the COPM and D2. It was found that all participants rated their satisfaction with attention in school or work higher than before they started the IM. Additionally, post-test scores of the d2 Test of Attention showed that all participants were able to process more information. Based on these results and past studies, it is believed that the Interactive Metronome is a valuable tool in the rehabilitation process and may be especially helpful for veterans with attention problems.