A Warm Welcome into the World: NICU Music Therapy Article in Therapy Times

I wrote an article that was recently published in Therapy Times, a multidisciplinary online resource featuring topics for nursing, nutrition therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy, respiratory therapy, and music therapy. You may view the full article, but first here is an excerpt ~

“(Music) is as powerful as any medicine. It has a unique way of accessing the brain and the nervous system.”
—Oliver Sacks, neurologist and author

According to the March of Dimes, the number of babies born preterm in the nation increased by 7 percent between 1994 and 2004. Unfortunately, the acoustical environment of most NICUs is not sensitive to the needs of the infants because of crowded spaces, closely spaced infants beds, machinery sounds, and sound-generating adult activities in open rooms surfaced with hard, reflective materials. In fact, noise levels in the NICU are usually well above the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended decibel level. Read the full article…

Thanks to m_bartosch for the image above.