Music Therapy

No two people are the same, and that means treatment plans often vary as well. Music therapy is very versatile as can be adapted for each individual. Just a few of the people who can benefit from music therapy include: elderly with mental health needs, developmental and learning disabilities, Alzheimer's disease and other aging related conditions, substance abuse problems, brain injuries, physical disabilities, and acute and chronic pain. A combination of creating, singing, moving to, and/or listening to music can reap a large number of benefits.(https://musictherapyconnections.org/who-can-benefit-from-music-therapy/)

Article: Family matters: meeting the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic: virtual developmental music therapy class for infants in the neonatal intensive care unit

• Infants who have lengthy hospitalizations in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) are at a higher risk for developmental delays as they become toddlers

• Music therapy can aid in meeting developmental milestones for NICU infants who have been in the hospital for over a month

• [music therapy is] An effective way to support development and encourage more social and positive interactions between parents and infants
  
  Current Struggles in Music Therapy:

• pandemic has caused hospitals to limit visitation to one parent or caregiver at a time and all staff/family members must wear a mask at all times

• Music arts allowed these children to socialize. When thought it was over a screen, it was oftentimes the first time these children had contact with other babies

• Current challenges to Music Therapy:

• Can’t be done in person unless everyone distances and wears masks. No instrument sharing. 

• If the point of music theory is socialization in young children, this can be more harmful than good

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• The pandemic made developmental support more crucial for children as they could only see one parent who has to wear a mask (as mentioned before)