Music Therapy

Music Therapy

Music therapy is used to treat people for various reasons and there are multiple styles of treatment presently being used. Music therapy is an effective form of therapy that is used on people of all ages to improve quality of life.

Music therapy has been used in the medical industry for more than 60 years and there are many people who have no idea what it is. During W.W.I., music therapy in the United States began to develop when music was used in the Veterans Administration Hospitals as an intervention to address traumatic war injuries. There were several musicians who were not working and they would go to the Veteran hospitals to play for the injured soldiers. "Numerous doctors and nurses witnessed the effect music had on veterans' ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...In addition, music therapy is beneficial for people who suffer from substance abuse, brain injuries, and acute pain, to mothers who are in labor (American Music Therapy Association, Inc., 1999).

Music Therapy has had numerous clinical studies to suggest that not only musical therapy is an effective means of treatment, but the sound of music is soothing and comfortable, and it lowers cortisol, a stress hormone, as much as 25%. The music can reduce pain for patients who have come out of surgery, decreases nausea with patients who are receiving chemotherapy, and increases awareness of self and environment. A study conducted at Yale University School of medicine proved that patients who were awake during a surgical procedure listening to their favorite music need lower doses of pain medication than patients who did not listen to music (Syed, 2006).

Developmentally disabled individuals and individuals with mental health needs are also receptive and benefit from music therapy. Music therapy for autistic individuals has helped to teach social interacting, encouraging the desire to communicate, and minimizing non–communicative speech. "As far as autism is concerned, studies have shown that music therapy has a significant, positive influence when used to treat autistic individuals" (Evans, 2008, para. 3). Children diagnosed with autism are very receptive to music therapy. It was stated "Music

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