There are various benefits of music therapy that can be obtained. Besides being able to improve mental health, music therapy is also believed to be able to improve the quality of life of someone who has physical health problems.
Music therapy is performed by a professional therapist who already has a bachelor's degree in music therapy. A music therapist will usually identify and consider the application of music therapy according to the patient's needs. Music therapy can be done in various ways, from listening to music, singing, playing musical instruments, to writing songs.
Benefits of Music Therapy
Apart from being fun and relaxing, there are various health benefits of music therapy, including:
- Help stabilize premature babyA study showed that music therapy given to premature infants while in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) has an effect on a more stable respiratory rate. Music therapy can help your baby fall asleep more easily, as well as stabilize his heart rate.
Music used for music therapy for premature babies includes:
- The sound of the sea because it resembles the sound of the blood flow in the womb.
- The gato box (a type of small drum with a soft sound made of wood), because it can resemble the sound of a mother's heartbeat that is usually heard during the womb.
- A song sung by mother. Music therapy derived from the mother's singing can help the baby's development, including helping premature babies recognize their mother's voice.
- If you are interested in providing music therapy for children born prematurely, ask the hospital's availability of music therapy. Maybe only a few hospitals provide music therapy to help premature babies develop.
- Improve patient sleep quality insomniaThe next benefit of music therapy is overcoming insomnia. The trick is to listen to music that you like so that the body can be more relaxed. Research shows that the habit of listening to music before bed can improve sleep quality for insomniacs. You can fall asleep faster and longer so you can sleep better.
Although the effectiveness of music therapy in overcoming insomnia needs to be investigated further, music therapy is considered safer because it tends to be less risky when compared to taking sleeping pills.
- Improve the patient's ability to do activities dementia
Appropriate music therapy can reduce symptoms, improve mood, and reduce anxiety experienced by people with dementia. By undergoing music therapy, the risk of elderly dementia patients suffering from heart disease can also be reduced.
- Build and develop the skills of people with autism
Music therapy is done for people with autism, generally in the form of listening to simple songs that match the mood or wishes of the patient. The therapist may also invite the patient to sing, make sounds, or move to a rhythm.
Therapists also usually rely on spontaneous musical improvisation. Both use musical instruments and sound. It is hoped that through this activity people with autism can feel comfortable, confident, able to express their emotions more broadly, and can communicate with other people.
Although there are various benefits of music therapy for health, it does not mean that music therapy can replace medical treatment. So, make sure to continue to consult about your health condition to the doctor, even though you have undergone music therapy with professionals.
