Texas Children’s Hospital Launches Music Therapy Program for Babies in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Inpatient Rehabilitation
Houston, TX (PRWEB) September 25, 2013 -- Texas Children’s Hospital has launched a new program that provides music therapy to babies in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and the inpatient rehabilitation unit. To watch a video about Texas Children’s Music Therapy program, please visit - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15pYF4WM27g.
Music therapy, as defined by The American Music Therapy Association, is the clinical and evidence-based use of music to accomplish individualized goals. In the NICU, music therapy involves assisting families with infant bonding through the use of song, songwriting and cautious introduction of nurturing stimulation, before most other types of interaction are appropriate. Recent studies show premature infants benefit from music therapy. The gentle rhythmic qualities of lullabies help create a more supportive environment during critical periods of brain development that may help improve outcomes.
“Music therapy is about providing families with the tools to interact and bond with their babies,” said Amy Smith, board certified music therapist at Texas Children’s Hospital. “When a parent has a very small and very sick baby, they may be unable to hold or touch their newborn and music therapy can encourage bonding through songs and lullabies.”
For children in the inpatient rehabilitation unit at Texas Children’s, music therapy focuses on incorporating rehabilitation goals into fun and motivating music interventions. Music is processed globally in the brain so music therapy can help patients with brain injuries access skills and functions through different brain pathways. Music therapy can provide motivation for difficult and challenging tasks and song writing or music video creation can be an outlet for emotional needs during long hospitalizations.
The Music Therapy program is a part of the Creative Arts Therapy program in the Child Life Department which provides developmental, educational and therapeutic interventions for children undergoing medical treatment. For more information about music therapy visit, http://www.texaschildrens.org.
About Texas Children's Hospital
Texas Children’s Hospital, a not-for-profit organization, is committed to creating a community of healthy children through excellence in patient care, education and research. Consistently ranked among the top children’s hospitals in the nation, Texas Children’s has recognized Centers of Excellence in multiple pediatric subspecialties including the Cancer and Heart Centers, and operates the largest primary pediatric care network in the country. Texas Children's has completed a $1.5 billion expansion, which includes the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute; Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, a comprehensive obstetrics/gynecology facility focusing on high-risk births; and Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus, a community hospital in suburban West Houston. For more information on Texas Children's, go to http://www.women.texaschildrens.org/FIRST/ . Get the latest news from Texas Children’s by visiting the online newsroom and on Twitter at twitter.com/texaschildrens.
Veronika Javor Romeis, Texas Children’s Hospital, http://women.texaschildrens.org/FIRST/, 832-824-2157, [email protected]
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