| Music therapy uses music to promote positive | | | | have been found to respond very positively to music |
| changes in the wellbeing of an individual. These | | | | and many of them display high levels of musical skill. |
| positive changes may be manifested in changes in | | | | Music encourages verbal as well as non verbal |
| physical development, social and interpersonal | | | | communication and promotes social interaction and |
| development, emotional or spiritual wellbeing or | | | | relatedness. It's a valuable outlet for self expression |
| cognitive abilities. | | | | and creativity. It has also been successfully used in |
| The therapeutic benefits of music have been known | | | | pain management by providing a distraction from the |
| and harnessed since ancient times. However, music | | | | painful stimulus as well as a means of relaxation and |
| therapy in modern times dates back to the World | | | | stress alleviation. |
| Wars when music was used in hospitals in the | | | | Children with developmental and learning |
| rehabilitation and recovery of soldiers who had | | | | difficulties,children and adults with autism spectrum |
| suffered physical or emotional trauma. The University | | | | disorder or special needs as well as the elderly and |
| of Kansas was the first University in the United | | | | dementia sufferers have all been shown to benefit |
| States to offer a degree program in music therapy in | | | | from music therapy. Although the benefits of music |
| 1944. | | | | therapy have been accepted intuitively and based on |
| Early exponents of music therapy in the 1950's to | | | | anecdotal evidence it wasn't till recently that |
| 1970's included the French cellist Juliet Alvin and Paul | | | | quantitative evidence of its efficacy started to |
| Nordoff and Clive Robbins. The Nordoff-Robbins | | | | emerge. |
| approach is still used in many countries around the | | | | In a recent study conducted by the University of |
| world including the USA, UK, Australia, Germany and | | | | Miami School of Medicine blood samples of a group of |
| South Africa. | | | | male Alzheimer's patients who were treated with |
| So, how does music therapy work? | | | | music therapy were found to have significantly |
| Music is universal and connects across language | | | | elevated levels of melatonin, epinephrine and |
| barriers. Most people can respond to music in some | | | | norepinephrine which are chemicals which act on the |
| way regardless of illness or disability. | | | | brain to control mood, depression, aggression and |
| Music has an inherent ability to generate an emotional | | | | sleep. The benefits of the therapy were still evident |
| response in the listener. It stimulates a relaxation | | | | even six weeks after cessation of the therapy and in |
| response which can therefore lead to physiological | | | | the case of melatonin the effects persisted even |
| changes in the body. Music is known to reduce stress | | | | longer. |
| thereby producing related benefits such as lower | | | | Music therapy is gaining wider acceptance in the |
| blood pressure, improved respiration, reduced heart | | | | general medical community and has certainly stood |
| rate, better cardiac performance and reduced tension | | | | the test of time. Music therapists can now be found |
| in muscles. | | | | practicing in a variety of institutions dealing with |
| Music is processed in both hemispheres of the brain | | | | mental health, developmental and early intervention |
| and this stimulation has been shown to help in | | | | programs, correctional institutions and special |
| development of language and speech functions. It | | | | education programs to name but a few. Many are |
| promotes socialization and development of | | | | having success where traditional treatment methods |
| communication, self expression and motor skills. | | | | have failed. |
| Children and adults with autism spectrum disorder | | | | |