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• Meeting ID: 850 7083 4747
• Passcode: 391199

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Abstract

The research investigates the therapeutic potential of soundscape augmentation in dementia care, examining the relationship between auditory processing deficits and behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. With dementia prevalence nearing 55 million globally and projected to reach 132 million by 2050, non-pharmacological interventions like soundscape design could improve quality of life and alleviate caregiver burden.

The research consists of three interconnected studies:

1. A systematic sound selection methodology analyzing 218 sound fragments based on acoustic and psychoacoustic parameters was tested in nursing homes in Flanders, Belgium, with 19 participants.
2. A pilot randomized controlled trial (n=28) evaluated the clinical efficacy of soundscape augmentation in a dementia unit at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute.
3. A theoretical framework was developed to map auditory scene analysis deficits across dementia subtypes to suitable soundscape characteristics.

Key findings indicate that specific psychoacoustic features, such as sharpness (high- frequency components), correlated positively with resident responses, with particular animal sounds eliciting favourable reactions. The randomized controlled trial yielded a significant reduction in resistance to care behaviours, indicating targeted therapeutic effects without affecting broader neuropsychiatric symptoms. The auditory scene analysis framework revealed distinct processing deficits among dementia types: Alzheimer's disease primarily disrupts bottom-up processing and spatial analysis, while frontotemporal dementia affects the schema-based interpretation and emotional processing of sound.

This research contributes to the understanding of how neurodegenerative diseases affect auditory analysis capabilities and establishes connections between cognitive deficits and environmental design requirements. The functional block diagram framework facilitates matching dementia-specific auditory impairments with tailored soundscapes, allowing for personalized interventions that address masking challenges.

In summary, this work represents a pioneering systematic investigation into soundscape augmentation as a focused intervention for dementia care. It provides theoretical frameworks and practical tools for environmental design, demonstrating that carefully designed acoustic environments can positively impact specific behavioural outcomes. This research contributes to the field of non-pharmacological dementia interventions, establishing soundscapes as a legitimate therapeutic approach that enhances the dignity and quality of life for individuals living with dementia while also supporting caregivers.

Biography

Arezoo Talebzadeh is a senior architect and soundscape researcher who holds a Ph.D. from Ghent University, Belgium. She has a Master of Design in Design for Health from OCAD University in Toronto, Canada, and a Master of Architecture from Azad University in Tehran, Iran.

Arezoo's research focuses on sensory stimuli, particularly sound, in the design of dementia care units. She investigates sound augmentation, how soundscape can help people sense time and space, and how acoustic agency fosters quality of life in care facilities. Her work bridges the gap between theoretical research and practical application in creating environments that respond to the diverse needs of individuals living with dementia.

As a practicing architect, she works on long-term care, retirement homes, and senior housing projects in Toronto, bringing her research insights directly into built environments that serve vulnerable populations.

Arezoo is a passionate advocate for inclusive design in both research and practice. She champions design approaches that recognize the full spectrum of human diversity, including cognitive differences, sensory variations, and cultural backgrounds. Her advocacy extends beyond accessibility compliance to embrace inclusive design principles that create environments where everyone can thrive with dignity and autonomy. She believes that inclusive design is not just an ethical imperative but a pathway to innovation that benefits all users, particularly in healthcare settings where individuals may experience multiple forms of vulnerability.

As a sessional instructor at OCAD University, Arezoo teaches graduate courses in Inclusive Design and Design for Health programs, mentoring the next generation of designers to prioritize equity and inclusion. Her teaching philosophy centers on helping students understand how design can actively promote health and well-being while fostering diversity, inclusion, and personal agency. Through her roles as architect, researcher, and educator, she works to ensure that inclusive design principles are not only understood but consistently implemented in professional practice.