Abstract

People with learning disabilities (LD) often experience challenges with activities of daily living (ADLs), which can impact independence and quality of life. Occupational therapy (OT) interventions that are personalised and engaging are needed to support functional skill development.
This case report describes “Sing It, Do It”, a co-produced, music-based occupational therapy intervention to develop independence in bathing. The case concerns an adult with a moderate LD, autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and epilepsy receiving OT input from a community learning disability team. A familiar and preferred melody was selected by the client, and personalised lyrics were collaboratively developed to embed step-by-step bathing instructions within a song. The intervention aimed to support task initiation, sequencing, pace, and sustained attention through auditory and rhythmic cueing. A librarian-assisted literature review identified limited but emerging evidence for song-based interventions supporting functional skills in adults with LD, with most existing literature located within paediatric, educational, or music therapy contexts. Outcomes were evaluated using structured task analysis, repeated clinical observation, and caregiver report, reflecting real-world occupational therapy practice rather than formal research measurement. Following implementation, the client demonstrated increased initiation, reduced reliance on prompts, and improved independence in completing
the bathing routine. This case contributes to the emerging evidence base for creative, occupation-focused interventions in adult learning disability services and highlights music-based approaches as a practical and underutilised tool within occupational therapy practice.

Citations

Powles, Lucy, (2026) Using ‘Sing It, Do It’ to support functional skills: a case report of a music-based occupational therapy intervention for adults with learning disabilities, International Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 1-9 DOI: 10.1080/20473869.2026.2632861

Sponsorship: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/20473869.2026.2632861

URI: https://oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/orka/title/using-sing-it-do-it-to-support-functional-skills-a-case-report-of-a-musicbased-occupational-therapy-intervention-for-adults-with-learning-disabilities/