Music therapy has coaxed promising responses from patients with communication disorders, severe pain and neurological conditions Music’s medical potential continues to grow. Studies have found that music can affect moods and spark memories, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve concentration. It can even help promote healing, according to recent reports in the Journal of the American Medical Association and in Women’s Health Source, a Mayo Clinic newsletter.

Music therapy is now accepted as complementary medicine in the treatment of

communication disorders, cognitive impairments and neurological conditions —

including brain injury, stroke and Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. It

has been found to control substance abuse, strengthen the immune system, aid

in breathing and relieve pain — even the pain of a terminal illness.

“There is a lot in the medical literature confirming that music is

therapeutic in end-of-life situations,” says Dr. Dan Handel, medical director

of the Community Hospice of Texas.

“I have seen some small studies that show it actually has a calming effect,

even on unconscious patients in a coma, and on deaf patients,” Handel says.

Electromagnetic brain wave studies validate the calming effect of music.

Handel believes music may decrease suffering by altering the meaning and

context of painful stimuli.

“The brain processes pain differently when we are calm and relaxed than when

in a crisis,” he says.

A recent study conducted in part at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort

Worth under direction of the music department at the University of North

Texas found that music vibration is able to reduce both pre- and

post-operative pain.

The project involved children in great pain from sickle-cell crises and some

undergoing scoliosis surgery.

“We used music while they were starting anesthesia — from about 20 minutes

before surgery until the patient was wheeled into the operating room and then

again after surgery,” says therapist Hummel.

Except for a couple of teens who were having spinal fusion surgery and

insisted on rock music, patients responded well to the music, she says.

“Those who wanted heavy percussion did not feel a whole lot of relief because

of the strong vibrations,” Hummel says.

The largest growth area for music therapy in recent years has been in the

public schools, where it is used to improve learning skills, motor skills and

communication skills, especially among special-education students, says

Joseph Pinson director of the Music Therapy Clinic at TWU and a former music

therapist at Denton State School.

“Music helps children with behavior problems,” Pinson says. “Many times if we

can tap into their interest in music, we can make a big difference in

behavior. “We act as consultants to teachers in some cases to set up

activities teachers can use to manage behavior or improve learning —

whatever the problem of the day.”

Pairing music with speech often helps children to develop speech, Pinson says.

“We often use music along with academic concepts — sometimes paired with

words. It helps academic concepts to stick in the mind. We also work with

people to develop or regain motor skills lost through an automobile accident

or something like that. You find a lot of times music is very motivating,” he

says.

For example, some people can complete a motor task — like brushing their

teeth — much quicker and more easily if assisted by beat-oriented music,

like that of a drum or other rhythm instrument.

“Many disabilities we see are lifelong. Music is not a cure for them but an

aid to regaining some skills, if we can, through the process of music. There

is rarely a session without some good laughs, and music-making opportunities

improve self-esteem and emotional state. It assists in coping with disability.

“Social skills are enhanced,” Pinson says. “Making music together is a very

social thing.”

– Carolyn Poirot Star-Telegram Staff Writer