Jump to content
HomeResearchMusic Therapy ResearchimtacCatalogue of Assessment Tools

Music therapy Sensory Instrument for Cognition, Consciousness and Awareness (MuSICCA)

Catalog of Assessment Tools

Music therapy Sensory Instrument for Cognition, Consciousness and Awareness (MuSICCA)

The purpose of the MuSICCA is to provide a differential diagnosis and a profile of responsiveness to stimuli, awareness and functioning for children and young people (2-18 years old) with disorders of consciousness. The assessment also informs detailed goal-planning for treatment, care, and education for this population.

Catalog of Assessment Tools

Music therapy Sensory Instrument for Cognition, Consciousness and Awareness (MuSICCA)

The purpose of the MuSICCA is to provide a differential diagnosis and a profile of responsiveness to stimuli, awareness and functioning for children and young people (2-18 years old) with disorders of consciousness. The assessment also informs detailed goal-planning for treatment, care, and education for this population.

Title (Acronym) Music therapy Sensory Instrument for Cognition, Consciousness and Awareness (MuSICCA)
Author(s) Pool, J.W. & Magee, W.L.
Publication date No date
Publisher info Not published.
Purpose The purpose of the MuSICCA is to provide a differential diagnosis and a profile of responsiveness to stimuli, awareness and functioning for children and young people (2-18 years old) with disorders of consciousness. The assessment also informs detailed goal-planning for treatment, care, and education for this population.
Assessment index terms Using the following list, identify 1 to 5 index terms (based on their definitions) that relate to this assessment tool:
Test- an assessment tool that results in a score, i.e., a quantitative value representing a construct relevant to the assessment
  • Observational- an assessment tool or process in which observation of client behavior constitute the predominant mode of data collection
  • Electronic- an assessment tool that involves the use of an electronic or digital device during the administration phase
  • Intervention/goal/treatment planning tool- an assessment tool that results in detailed information about the client that may can inform goal-setting, intervention/treatment planning, and environmental management.
Population Children and young people (2-18 years) with disorders of consciousness.
Scores 15 items across 7 behavioural domains (Auditory, Visual, , Communication, Cognition, Sensori-Motor, Emotion, Arousal) are rated using an ordinal scale to assess the presence or absence of operationally-defined behavioural criteria. Behavioural ratings are transformed into scores for two subscales providing profiles of awareness and functioning across Vegetative State (VS), Minimally Conscious State (MCS), and Emerging from MCS.
Administration Individual.
Time 30-45 minutes per assessment session. There are four sessions required for full administration. (This is under review in the validation study.)
Comments
  • The MuSICCA was developed based on pilot data from the MATADOC with a cohort of children with PDOC and international expert opinion of music therapists specialising in working with children with PDOC
  • Published evidence for construct validity, test-retest reliability, inter-rater reliability, clinical utility is currently the subject of a psychometric study. Specialized training is required
  • Can only be administered by a trained music therapist
CROSS REFERENCES

Pool, J. W., Siegert, R. J., Taylor, S., Dunford, C., & Magee, W. (2020). Evaluating the validity, reliability and clinical utility of the Music therapy Sensory Instrument for Cognition, Consciousness and Awareness (MuSICCA): protocol of a validation study. BMJ open, 10(8), e039713.

Magee, W. L., Ghetti, C. M., & Moyer, A. (2015). Feasibility of the music therapy assessment tool for awareness in disorders of consciousness (MATADOC) for use with pediatric populations. Frontiers in psychology, 6, 698.
Reference Publication forthcoming
REVIEW None.
Description The MuSICCA is conducted live by a trained assessor over four sessions (30-45 min each) within a 10-day period. Each assessment session begins and ends with 3 minutes of non-stimulated observation. The majority of the assessment involves stimulated observation: presenting musical stimuli in three modalities (vision, auditory and tactile). The person being assessed is required to respond to stimuli and commands. The MuSICCA uses a detailed protocol for its administration and scoring. 15 items (assessment areas) are rated using an ordinal scale. The items comprise of responses to visual stimuli, responses to auditory stimuli, responses to vibrotactile stimuli, awareness of musical stimuli, motor responses, vocalisation, affective behaviours, behavioural responses to music, musical responses, non-verbal communication, choice-making, response to verbal commands, attention to task, intentional behaviour, and arousal It provides a diagnostic outcome that indicates a profile of awareness and functioning across VS, MCS, and Emerging from MCS.