Let’s Discuss: Music Therapy

Posted On enero 20, 2021

Extra Information about the main topics of this article:

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is an irreversible brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skill that appear in a patient’s mid sixties. It causes it’s patients a lot of distress and anxiety, as well as can be challenging for the patient’s family and caretakers. To learn more or support: https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-alzheimers

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a complex developmental condition that involves persistent challenges in social interaction, speech, nonverbal communication and repetitive/restricted behaviors. Where to support: https://www.appliedbehavioranalysisprograms.com/best-autism-charities/

Musical association when we listen to a song it can be associated with a memory. I listened to this song at my birthday party, I was happy at my birthday party therefore I associate this song with happiness for example. (this is a very simplified explanation) So a song is associated with a memory, a memory is associated with an emotion.

Music Therapy uses music in a therapeutic way to address physical,emotion, cognitive and social needs of an individual.

We probably all love to listen to music however did you know it can act as a form of therapy and relives us of stress. There are so many studies out there looking at the benefits of music therapy for people with anxiety, stress, autism and even those suffering with Alzheimer’s. We are in no way medical professionals we just took some common points that came out of our sources and complied them in one article, I tried my best to handle this article with delicacy.

Music therapy acts as a stress and anxiety relief:

Music increases serotonin which is a happy hormone that relieves us of stress. Music also makes us feel productive which ensures we do all our tasks that could be causing our stress or it can be a form of meditation drowning out other distractions therefore preventing procrastination once again ensuring that those stress causing tasks get done.

Fun Fact: Classical music has an effect on our physiological functions, giving us stress relief.

Music therapy benefits for patients with Alzheimer’s disease:

Multiple studies have been done to asses the effectiveness of treatment on memory for those suffering with Alzheimer’s (this is a brief summary). Listening to music boosts patients moral, which helped improved their quality of lives as well as makes things easier for their caretakers. Due to music association it actual helped some patients regain some dormant memories. (Music therapy is not a cure for Alzheimer).

Music therapy benefits for young patients with Autism:

Music stimulates both hemispheres of those with Autism rather than just one. Music therapy can build self-awareness and improve relationships, lyrics also act as a form of communication. Once again this is not a cure!

The Benefits Of Music Therapy For Autistic Children

The pros and cons of music therapy:

Pros:

• Boosts your mood and regulates your emotions.
• Reduces stress and anxiety.
• Provides comfort.
• Helps children with autism.
• Helps people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Cons:

• Music can cause over stimulation.
• Due to music association, music can cause trigger an unwanted memory.
• Wrong type of music can cause more distress.

This was not an easy article to write as I wanted to handle this subject with a lot of care and this is just a very simplified version of the multiple sources I read through therefore I will be linking them for those who would like more in depth explanations.

~Stay Curious~

Sources:

https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/autism/what-is-autism-spectrum-disorder

https://www.gethealthystayhealthy.com/articles/10-health-benefits-of-music

https://psychcentral.com/lib/the-power-of-music-to-reduce-stress#3

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6022981/

https://www.caringseniorservice.com/blog/music-awakens-those-with-alzheimers

https://medicine.utah.edu/neurology/news/2019/12/music-and-memory.php

https://www.musictherapy.org/about/musictherapy/

https://www.incadence.org/post/outcomes-benefits-and-drawbacks-of-music-therapy

https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-alzheimers

https://www.appliedbehavioranalysisprograms.com/best-autism-charities/

https://www.incadence.org/post/outcomes-benefits-and-drawbacks-of-music-therapy

https://www.gethealthystayhealthy.com/articles/10-health-benefits-of-music