Benefits of Music Therapy Neurologic music therapy services benefit individuals and families facing a variety of challenges. Each individual and family has a unique situation. The following lists highlight possible benefits of neurologic music therapy. Neurologic music therapy is appropriate for the populations listed below and is also appropriate for individuals with other disabilities and disorders. Benefits of Neurologic Music Therapy for Survivors of Traumatic Brain Injury: Improves arousal and sensory stimulation Improves motor movement (strength, endurance, timing, range of motion) Improves speech rate, intelligibility and initiation Improves speaking prosody Improves attention Improves executive functioning skills (planning, decision making, evaluating) Improves mood control and social competence Improves appropriate emotional expression Benefits of Neurologic Music Therapy for Individuals Who Have Parkinson’s Disease: Improves initiation of movement Improves stride length Improves quality of motor movements Improves and maintains speaking volume Improves and maintains intelligibility Improves attention Improves executive functioning skills (planning, decision making, evaluating) Provides an outlet for emotional expression Creates a sense of control due to success Benefits of Neurologic Music Therapy for Stroke Survivors: Improves gait symmetry Improves velocity and stride length Improves motor movement (strength, endurance, timing, range of motion) Improves neglect Improves speaking fluency for patients with aphasia Improves speech rate, intelligibility and initiation Improves attention Improves memory Improves executive functioning skills (planning, decision making, evaluating) Provides an outlet for emotional expression Benefits of Neurologic Music Therapy for Individuals Who Have Multiple Sclerosis: Improves stride symmetry and endurance Improves motor movement (strength, endurance, timing, range of motion) Improves speech rate, intelligibility and initiation Improves attention Improves memory Improves executive functioning skills (planning, decision making, evaluating) Provides an outlet for emotional expression Benefits of Neurologic Music Therapy for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities: Encourages social interaction Communicates and teaches academic concepts through music Improves non-verbal communication skills (eye contact, turn-taking etc.) Improves attention Improves speech Improves executive functioning skills (planning, decision making, evaluating) Reduces aggressive behaviors Improves sensory regulation Opportunities for sensory stimulation in a structured environment Eases transitions between activities Why Music Therapy? Music is a non-threatening medium that is motivating and engaging for individuals of all ages. We know from ongoing scientific research that music is processed on both sides of the brain. Music is processed in a different way than some other mediums such as speech. This unique processing can create opportunities for some exciting and unique results. Music therapy is appropriate for individuals with no musical experience, and also for individuals with musical experience. The music therapist is a competent musician who is trained to create successful and challenging applications that meet a person’s unique needs.