Music Therapy in the NICU
Music therapy has become a common practice in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) across America, using soothing sounds, lullabies and gentle touches to relax premature babies and aid their recovery from medical procedures.
The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can be a stressful environment for newborn infants. But music has the power to lower their heart rates and make them happier, as well as aiding with sleeping better – essential for healing.
Recent studies have yet to demonstrate the effects of music therapy on premature infants, but that’s changing. Researchers are now using music therapy in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to research whether it has any long-term impacts on their brains, according to Emily Pivovarnik, a music therapist at MU Health Care in Columbia, Missouri.
Research has demonstrated that music therapy can reduce stress in hospitals. But more research needs to be done before we know for certain how this therapy affects premature babies’ brain development. MU Health Care is leading a large study to investigate this connection.
Severely premature infants have one-third less brain volume than full-term babies, making them particularly vulnerable to overstimulation and the development of neurologic problems like autism or ADHD. Over time, this delay may lead to medical issues such as autism or ADHD.
Preemies must be closely monitored when exposed to music stimuli like music therapy, acoustic stimulation or even their own mother’s voice or heartbeat. It is essential that those providing this care are well-trained in proper techniques for providing a secure experience and that all stimuli adhere to established guidelines of benefit versus harm.
Problems arise when those not trained in music therapy provide music to NICU infants without realizing the implications for both the baby and those nearby. This could include parents, physicians or other professionals bringing toys with sound or mobiles that may contain lullabies into the NICU with the intent of soothing babies.
The NICU is staffed with an array of healthcare professionals, such as doctors and nurses to social workers and occupational therapists. However, due to limited time with these babies, these caregivers must prioritize how they use their resources wisely.
Conversely, NICU music therapists who are trained in NICU techniques can utilize their time efficiently to assess infants, create clinical protocols, carry out the MT intervention and track outcomes. As experts on these infants’ needs, NICU-MTs possess the knowledge of effective approaches that promote positive changes to development, physical health and mental wellbeing.
Music therapy in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is underutilized but has the potential to improve both medical and developmental outcomes while cutting medical costs. As a profession, we must engage in conversations about policies and actions that will facilitate and accept specialized music therapy treatment in this setting.