Music therapy uses musical activity—such as creating, singing, playing or listening to music—to strengthen the physical, emotional, cognitive and social abilities of patients as part of the healing process.
Music therapy at Children’s helps patients:
- Manage pain
- Express emotions
- Improve thinking, attention, alertness, memory, and vocal and verbal expression
- Develop social skills and relate to others
- Improve movement and physical strength
- Develop the ability to speak and communicate
- Relieve stress through relaxation
- Decrease pain or anxiety during medical procedures
Our music therapists observe the way your child participates in activities to learn about his musical preferences, interest level and history. Your child’s therapist will use this information to develop a customized music therapy plan, which may involve treatment individually, in peer groups, with the family, or in other therapy sessions. During therapy, your child might play musical instruments, sing or hum, or listen, move or exercise to music. He may also write or compose music or work with multimedia music resources.
The conditions we treat with music therapy are:
- Burns
- Cognition and memory impairment
- Decreased mobility
- Developmental delays
- Learning disabilities
- High-risk neonatal circumstances
- Long-term medical illness
- Physical injuries and disabilities
- Speech-language problems