Music Therapy in the NICU

Music Therapy in the NICU

• Based on research and provided by specially trained music therapists
• Music can mask ambient noise in the NICU environment
• Music pacifies the infant and positively effects oxygen saturation levels, heart rate, and respiration rate
• Music therapy with premature infants can reduce hospital length of stay
• Music facilitates neurological growth and development
• Music therapy promotes parent involvement and care for caregivers
• Music can enhance the NICU environment for medical personnel

Three Prominent Interventions

• Music listening to reduce infant stress, increase oxygen and decrease 
• Multimodal stimulation paired with live music to increase tolerance to stimulation
• Pacifier Activated Lullaby (PAL) for non-nutritive sucking to increase feeding and reduce pain

Specialized Training in Neonatal ICU Music Therapy
(from the website: http://music.fsu.edu/Areas-of-Study/Music-Therapy/Certifications/NICU-MT)

"Premature infants are extremely fragile with many beginning their treatment at a basic survival level. Handling and interaction can be harmful to their care and must be carefully designed to promote the medical/developmental goals of NICU treatment, especially when adding non-essential stimuli such as music. Evidence-based music therapy treatment in this most critical setting is based on information about the needs of the infants, medical and developmental goals of NICU care, and music therapy protocols documented in refereed research literature. This 30-hour specialized training course awards a Certificate of specialized training and use of the initials NICU MT designating competency achievement to practice evidence-based clinical services in this very critical and highly specialized environment. The institute maintains a list of individuals completing this training as a service to the medical community."

Links:

For more information about the National Institute for Infant and Child Medical Music Therapy click here.

For more information about the Pacifier Activated Lullaby click here.

Music Therapy with Premature Infants: Research and Developmental Interventions, 2nd Ed. by Jayne M. Standley, Ph.D., MT-BC; 2003, The American Music Therapy Association

Music, Medicine & Miracles by Amy Robertson, MM, MT-BC, NICU MT; 2009, Florida Hospital Healthcare & Leadership Monograph Series, Vol 3.

45 Hospitals with NICU Music Therapy Programs:
Information provided by Kat Fulton at Rhythms for Good: http://www.rhythmforgood.com/2010/02/hospitals-with-nicu-music-therapy-programs-around-the-world/

Free NICU Ebook “For Those Who Hold the Littlest Hands”from NICU Parent Support: http://www.squidoo.com/free-nicu-ebook


Free Downloads:

Information for Parents of Infants in NICU
How Can Music Help My Preemie?