Exploring the Meaning of Music in the Lives of Individuals with Visual Impairment: A Focus-Group Study

The loss of vision can drastically affect an individual’s life. Their entire worldview has the potential to be altered in every way, shape, and form. Visual impairment, however, does not dictate one’s ability to live a functional life. The use of other senses, such as hearing, plays a large role in assisting individuals with visual impairment to live successful lives. Indeed, sound has the power to improve the lives of individuals with visual impairment both physically and emotionally. Music has the potential to serve as a leisure activity, a career, and a tool to bring people together and participate in activities and occupations. The use of auditory skills plays an important role in individuals with vision loss. Different sounds become more apparent than others. Certain environments can elicit emotions and memories. The sense of hearing for individuals with visual impairment can serve as a meaningful occupation and therefore contribute to the improvement of their everyday lives. As individuals age, their leisure activities may change. Listening to music may serve as a leisure activity for all age groups, but older adults in particular because of its easy accessibility and usage. Music can be used as an activity to increase social participation and community involvement. This paper will examine the effects of listening to music for individuals with visual impairment