The Power of Music Therapy with Premature Infants
I have worked as a music therapist in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) for 15 years and I love what I do. There is a large amount of research demonstrating the power music therapy has on this fragile population.
Did you know the following about music therapy and premature infants?:
Music Therapy Reduces Length of Stay- Infants that have received music therapy services have been found to go home from the hospital sooner than infants that did not receive music therapy.
Music Therapy Increases Weight Gain-Music therapy uses a tool called the Pacifier Activated Lullaby (PAL). This device uses music to help teach infants how to suck. When the infant sucks on their pacifier, music is played. This reinforces and supports a positive association with sucking, which many infants have challenges with in the NICU. Infants that have used the PAL have been found to have increased weight gain, and as a result, leave the hospital sooner.
Music Therapy Helps Lower Caregiver Stress- Music therapy doesn’t only impact the baby, but can help decrease the stress of the caregivers and enhance bonding. Music therapists empower and educate caregivers on ways they can use music with their infant in a safe way. This includes showing caregivers how to respond to signs of overstimulation and teaching techniques to use when engaging with their child.
*Bonus Fact: Did you know that families of patients who received music therapy services in the hospital reported higher overall satisfaction scores on the post hospital survey than patients that did not receive music therapy?
Music therapy is a powerful tool to use with premature infants, and it is much more than just singing to babies. Research has demonstrated that music therapy is an invaluable asset to the NICU. It’ll be exciting to see the research grow in this field in the coming years.
References:
Cevasco, A. M., & Grant, R. E. (2005). Effects of the pacifier activated lullaby on weight gain of premature infants. Journal of music therapy, 42(2), 123–139.
Cevasco, A. (2008). The effects of mothers’ singing on full term and preterm infants and maternal emotional responses. Journal of Music Therapy, 46(3), 273–306.
Gooding, J., Cooper, L., Blaine, A., Franck, L., Howse, J., & Berns, S. (2011). Family support and family-centered care in the neonatal intensive care unit: Origins, advances, impact. Seminars in Perinatology, 35(1), 20-28.
Loewy, J., Stewart, K., Dassler, A. M., Telsey, A., & Homel, P. (2013). The effects of music therapy on vital signs, feeding, and sleep in premature infants. Pediatrics, 131(5), 902–918.
Standley, J., & Gutierrez, C. (2020). Benefits of a comprehensive evidence-based NICU-MT Program: Family-centered neurodevelopmental music therapy for premature infants. Pediatric Nursing, 46(1), 40-46.
Walworth, D., Standley, J. M., Robertson, A., Smith, A., Swedberg, O., & Peyton, J. J. (2012). Effects of neurodevelopmental stimulation on premature infants in neonatal intensive care: Randomized controlled trial. Journal of Neonatal Nursing, 18, 210-216.
Yinger, O. S., & Standley, J. M. (2011). The effects of medical music therapy on patient satisfaction: As measured by the Press Ganey Inpatient Survey. Music Therapy Perspectives, 29(2), 149–156.
