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This article details how music therapy has helped numerous infants and babies recover in the NICU. While not relating to how music therapy can help older, neurodivergent children, it is still important to understand its effects and benefits for activating the healing process of the human body. Additionally, the article touches on the cognitive engagement that music provides and how it is beneficial for all, young and old.

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The beep of ventilators and infusion pumps, the hiss of oxygen, the whir of carts and the murmur of voices as physicians and nurses make rounds - these are the typical noises a premature infant hears spending the first days of life in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). While the sounds of such life-saving equipment are tough to mute, a new study suggests that some sounds, such as lullabies, may soothe pre-term babies and their parents, and even improve the infants' sleeping and eating patterns, while decreasing parents' stress ( Pediatrics, 2013).

Researchers at Beth Israel Medical Center's Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine conducted the study, which included 272 premature babies 32 weeks gestation or older in 11 mid-Atlantic NICUs. They examined the effects of three types of music: a lullaby selected and sung by the baby's parents; an "ocean disc," a round instrument, invented by the Remo drum company, that mimics the sounds of the womb; and a gato box, a drum-like instrument used to simulate two-tone heartbeat rhythms. The two instruments were played live by certified music therapists, who matched their music to the babies' breathing and heart rhythms.

The researchers found that the gato box, the Remo ocean disc and singing all slowed a baby's heart rate, although singing was the most effective. Singing also increased the amount of time babies stayed quietly alert, and sucking behavior improved most with the gato box, while the ocean disc enhanced sleep. The music therapy also lowered the parents' stress, says Joanne Loewy, the study's lead author, director of the Armstrong center and co-editor of the journal Music and Medicine.

"There's just something about music - particularly live music - that excites and activates the body," says Loewy, whose work is part of a growing movement of music therapists and psychologists who are investigating the use of music in medicine to help patients dealing with pain, depression and possibly even Alzheimer's disease. "Music very much has a way of enhancing quality of life and can, in addition, promote recovery."

Music to treat pain and reduce stress

While music has long been recognized as an effective form of therapy to provide an outlet for emotions, the notion of using song, sound frequencies and rhythm to treat physical ailments is a relatively new domain, says psychologist Daniel J. Levitin, PhD, who studies the neuroscience of music at McGill University in Montreal. A wealth of new studies is touting the benefits of music on mental and physical health. For example, in a meta-analysis of 400 studies, Levitin and his postgraduate research fellow, Mona Lisa Chanda, PhD, found that music improves the body's immune system function and reduces stress. Listening to music was also found to be more effective than prescription drugs in reducing anxiety before surgery ( Trends in Cognitive Sciences, April, 2013).

"We've found compelling evidence that musical interventions can play a health-care role in settings ranging from operating rooms to family clinics," says Levitin, author of the book "This is Your Brain on Music" (Plume/Penguin, 2007). The analysis also points to just how music influences health. The researchers found that listening to and playing music increase the body's production of the antibody immunoglobulin A and natural killer cells - the cells that attack invading viruses and boost the immune system's effectiveness. Music also reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

"This is one reason why music is associated with relaxation," Levitin says.

One recent study on the link between music and stress found that music can help soothe pediatric emergency room patients ( JAMA Pediatrics, July, 2013). In the trial with 42 children ages 3 to 11, University of Alberta researchers found that patients who listened to relaxing music while getting an IV inserted reported significantly less pain, and some demonstrated significantly less distress, compared with patients who did not listen to music. In addition, in the music-listening group, more than two-thirds of the health-care providers reported that the IVs were very easy to administer - compared with 38 percent of providers treating the group that did not listen to music.

"There is growing scientific evidence showing that the brain responds to music in very specific ways," says Lisa Hartling, PhD, professor of pediatrics at the University of Alberta and lead author of the study. "Playing music for kids during painful medical procedures is a simple intervention that can make a big difference."

Music can help adult patients, too. Researchers at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in Singapore found that patients in palliative care who took part in live music therapy sessions reported relief from persistent pain ( Progress in Palliative Care, July, 2013). Music therapists worked closely with the patients to individually tailor the intervention, and patients took part in singing, instrument playing, lyric discussion and even song writing as they worked toward accepting an illness or weighed end-of-life issues.

"Active music engagement allowed the patients to reconnect with the healthy parts of themselves, even in the face of a debilitating condition or disease-related suffering," says music therapist Melanie Kwan, co-author of the study and president of the Association for Music Therapy, Singapore. "When their acute pain symptoms were relieved, patients were finally able to rest."

The healing power of vibration

At its core, music is sound, and sound is rooted in vibration. Led by Lee Bartel, PhD, a music professor at the University of Toronto, several researchers are exploring whether sound vibrations absorbed through the body can help ease the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, fibromyalgia and depression. Known as vibroacoustic therapy, the intervention involves using low frequency sound - similar to a low rumble - to produce vibrations that are applied directly to the body. During vibroacoustic therapy, the patient lies on a mat or bed or sits in a chair embedded with speakers that transmit vibrations at specific computer-generated frequencies that can be heard and felt, says Bartel. He likens the process to sitting on a subwoofer.

In 2009, researchers led by Lauren K. King of the Sun Life Financial Movement Disorders Research and Rehabilitation Centre at Wilfrid Laurier University, in Waterloo, Ontario, found that short-term use of vibroacoustic therapy with Parkinson's disease patients led to improvements in symptoms, including less rigidity and better walking speed with bigger steps and reduced tremors ( NeuroRehabilitation, December, 2009). In that study, the scientists exposed 40 Parkinson's disease patients to low-frequency 30-hertz vibration for one minute, followed by a one-minute break. They then alternated the two for a total of 10 minutes. The researchers are now planning a long-term study of the use of vibroacoustic therapy with Parkinson's patients, as part of a new partnership with the University of Toronto's Music and Health Research Collaboratory, which brings together scientists from around the world who are studying music's effect on health.

The group is also examining something called thalmocortical dysrhythmia - a disorientation of rhythmic brain activity involving the thalamus and the outer cortex that appears to play a role in several medical conditions including Parkinson's, fibromyalgia and possibly even Alzheimer's disease, says Bartel, who directs the collaboratory.

"Since the rhythmic pulses of music can drive and stabilize this disorientation, we believe that low-frequency sound might help with these conditions," Bartel says. He is leading a study using vibroacoustic therapy with patients with mild Alzheimer's disease. The hope is that using the therapy to restore normal communication among brain regions may allow for greater memory retrieval, he says.

"We've already seen glimmers of hope in a case study with a patient who had just been diagnosed with the disorder," Bartel says. "After stimulating her with 40-hertz sound for 30 minutes three times a week for four weeks, she could recall the names of her grandchildren more easily, and her husband reported good improvement in her condition."

The goal of all of this work is to develop "dosable" and "prescribable" music therapy and music as medicine protocols that serve specific neurologic functions and attend to deficits that may result from many of these neurologically based conditions. Rather than viewing music only as a cultural phenomenon, Bartel says, the art should be seen as a vibratory stimulus that has cognitive and memory dimensions.

"Only when we look at it in this way do we start to see the interface to how the brain and body work together."

Amy Novotney is a writer in Chicago.

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The beep of ventilators and infusion pumps, the hiss of oxygen, the whir of carts and the murmur of voices as physicians and nurses make rounds - these are the typical noises a premature infant hears spending the first days of life in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

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Music therapy has been shown to play a powerful role in supporting cognitive development, especially in children.

Engaging with music, whether through listening, creating, or movement, stimulates areas of the brain involved in memory, attention, language, and emotional processing.

Research suggests that music therapy can enhance neural connections, improve focus, and even support literacy and problem-solving skills. By blending creativity with structured therapeutic goals, music becomes more than just an art form, it becomes a tool for growing minds.

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The power of music to bring people together is undeniable, but for adolescents, it can be particularly transformative—especially when designed to foster inclusive connections. A recent study, The Connections in Relationships Among Autistic and Neurotypical Adolescents Participating in a Virtual, Inclusive, Performative Music Therapy Group, by Laura Silvestain (2022), delves into how music therapy can facilitate meaningful relationships among neurodiverse and neurotypical teens, even in a virtual setting.

The Study and Its Purpose
The research aimed to investigate how participating in a virtual, inclusive music therapy group would impact the connections formed between autistic and neurotypical adolescents. The goal was to explore how inclusive music therapy, through active music-making and sharing musical preferences, could create opportunities for these teens to connect with each other, moving away from deficit-based models of autism treatment to a more strengths-based approach that celebrates neurodiversity.

The study engaged seven participants aged 13-19, four of whom completed the study's sessions and pre- and post-tests. Over four sessions, the adolescents—both autistic and neurotypical—engaged in various music therapy activities designed to encourage communication, collaboration, and creativity. The research used both qualitative and quantitative methods, employing the Index of Peer Relations (IPR) to measure peer relationship changes and a researcher-created measure to gain additional insights into the participants' experiences.

Key Findings
The study's results provide interesting insights, albeit with varying degrees of significance:

Small Changes in Connectedness: There was a slight increase in connectedness within the group, suggesting that the music therapy sessions had a positive, though not statistically significant, impact on the relationships between the teens.

Individual Variations: While some participants (PA and PB) showed significant changes in their peer relationships (e.g., PA’s IPR score decreased from 92 to 51), others showed smaller or no changes, indicating that individual experiences varied greatly.

Improvements in Emotional Connection: In response to the specific questions about emotional closeness, participants generally reported feeling more connected after the sessions. The researcher-created measure revealed that, while some found it challenging to connect over Zoom, most participants felt closer to the group and valued the opportunity to share their music preferences.

Music as a Tool for Social Interaction: The sessions fostered an environment where both autistic and neurotypical adolescents could collaborate, perform, and express themselves musically. This created a space for mutual respect, understanding, and inclusivity, aligning with the neurodiversity movement that advocates for acceptance of all neurological differences.

Limitations and Future Implications
While the study shows promising results, several limitations were noted. The research was conducted virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which restricted the ability to perform music together in real-time and may have influenced the depth of social connections formed. Additionally, the sample size was small, with only four participants completing both the pre- and post-tests. These limitations suggest the need for further studies with larger groups and in-person settings to better understand the full impact of inclusive music therapy.

Nevertheless, the study emphasizes the potential of inclusive, performative music therapy to foster genuine connections between neurodiverse adolescents. By focusing on relationships and shared experiences rather than perceived deficits, music therapy offers a promising avenue for promoting social inclusion and understanding.

Conclusion
This study highlights the importance of creating inclusive spaces for adolescents—regardless of neurodiversity—to connect, express themselves, and thrive. Music, as a universal language, serves as a bridge for these teens, enabling them to form connections that might otherwise remain out of reach. By embracing a strengths-based, collaborative approach, music therapy can not only help adolescents with autism but also create a more inclusive, empathetic community for all participants.

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Hiring music therapists in schools is a controversial issue and there is debate surrounding multiple perspectives on this topic. These perspectives cover the ways schools deal with hiring special resource providers as well as the availability of funding. Additionally, there is debate surrounding the question of if music therapy comes at the expense of other treatment options in schools and if music therapy restricts other resources.

On the other hand, some perspectives offer the idea that having music therapists in schools offer a more diverse selection of treatment methods for neurodivergent children.

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Spiritune Explained: Music Therapy Vs. Talk Therapy

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As talk therapy explodes in popularity, so too have many other forms of treatment that address emotional issues, such as music therapy. The idea that music can help us process emotions can seem like a big contrast to traditional talk therapy, and so we’re answering the most pressing curiosities when it comes to understanding the two different therapeutic options. Read here to find out more…

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Music therapy provides a safe, engaging outlet for expressing feelings and building social skills, fostering a sense of connection and well-being. Because music therapy helps clients identify and name their emotions, this leads to improved self-awareness and self-expression. Additionally, the non-verbal aspect of music therapy aids in the emotional development of clients who struggle with verbal communication.

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Music therapy can enhance motor skills such as coordination, balance, and strength through activities like playing instruments, dancing, and rhythmic exercises. It can also reduce perceived pain and improve overall comfort, increasing the effectiveness of physical rehabilitation.

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Music therapy engages the cognitive, emotional, and motor functioning parts of the brain which are involved in emotion, memory, attention, and motor control.

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Madjar, N., Gazoli, R., Manor, I., & Shoval, G. (2020). Contrasting effects of music on reading comprehension in preadolescents with and without ADHD. Psychiatry research, 291, 113207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113207

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Novotney, A. (2013, November). Music as Medicine. American Psychological Association, 46. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2013/11/music

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Music therapy stimulates different brain regions, releasing neurotransmitters like dopamine and endorphins, and promotes neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is crucial for the developing mind because, by enabling the brain to adapt and learn, it creates a more resilient mind which can be useful, especially for recovering from injury throughout life.

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As an alternative form of therapy, music therapy uses sound and music to facilitate positive change in the clients that use it.

Music therapy is recognized as a form of healthcare and a legitimate, therapeutic discipline, similar to occupational or speech therapy, but is based on the unique characteristics of music.

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Let's explore the following pillars of music therapy to see how they affect the mind and body:

Activation of Brain Regions

Neurochemical Changes

Emotional + Social Benefits

Physical Benefits

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Silvestain, L. (2022). The connections in relationships among autistic and neurotypical adolescents participating in a virtual, inclusive, performative music therapy group. Unpublished master's thesis, Molloy College, Rockville Centre, NY.

Kaur, H. (2024). Finding resilience through music for neurodivergent children. In Proceedings of the Interaction Design and Children Conference (IDC '24), June 17–20, 2024, Delft, Netherlands. ACM. https://doi.org/10.1145/3628516.3659419

Davies, H. (2022). ‘Autism is a way of being’: An ‘insider perspective’ on neurodiversity, music therapy and social justice. British Journal of Music Therapy, 36(1), 16–26. https://doi.org/10.1177/13594575221090182

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American Music Therapy Association. “Find a Music Therapist.” American Music Therapy Association, https://www.musictherapy.org/about/find/. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.

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1. Emotional Support:

Aids in clients' identification and processing of feelings, ultimately allowing clients to find relief from emotional distress.

2. Medical and Physical Rehabilitation:

Aids in managing pain during clients' rehabilitation. Can also re-develop/maintain motor skills through rhythm and movement.

3. Cognitive Support:

Aids the development, strengthening, and maintenance in areas of attention, memory, and executive functioning skills.

4. Education and Development:

Aids children in areas of language development, motor, and social skills as well as enhancing learning abilities.

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This U.S.-accessible study explores the intersection of music therapy, participatory design, and emotional self-regulation for neurodivergent children. Conducted at OCAD University, the research centers around the co-design of a music-making robotic interface, developed with direct input from two children aged 6–12 and a music therapist. The main goal was to assess how interactive, non-screen-based music tools could support self-expression and self-regulation in children with ADHD, autism, or other neurodivergent conditions. Using qualitative methods like thematic analysis and actor-network theory, the researcher found that the children responded enthusiastically to the robot, particularly because of its LEGO-based familiarity and the multisensory experience it offered. Key findings include that children with prior musical experience or familiarity with LEGO engaged more creatively and confidently with the tool, and that the robot allowed them to focus on patterns and musical experimentation in ways traditional tools might not. A music therapist involved in the study emphasized the therapeutic value of visual and tactile engagement, noting that the robot could help neurodivergent children practice executive functioning, emotional expression, and creativity. Although the study had a small sample size, the results highlight the importance of multimodal, child-centered interventions in music therapy. The researcher proposes further development of more accessible versions, such as mobile apps, and additional testing with a broader population. Ultimately, this study contributes to inclusive design practices by showing how music and interactive technologies can foster resilience and emotional growth in neurodivergent youth.

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Music Education and Neurodivergent Children

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Music Education and Neurodivergent Children

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This article is a perfect example of just how diverse the range of benefits is for neurodivergent children, is also lists the practical applications of such and just how diverse the range of application is for the therapy.

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BBICO | Music Education and Neurodivergent Children

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Music therapy and music education offer unique benefits for neurodivergent children. This includes those with Autism, ADHD and more.

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Attention + Focus

Inattentiveness, which is common in many children with ADHD, can negatively affect their social and academic development. Music's rhythmic and melodic structures can help modulate those behaviors, making it easier for children to concentrate.

Impulse Control

Because many children with ADHD struggle to control certain impulses, the delayed gratification that often accompanies the music-making process can help children think more slowly about their musical decisions, ultimately developing a stronger sense of self-control.

Time Management

Rhythm work can not only help children improve their attention and focus, but can additionally develop a better sense of time and awareness, a common challenge with ADHD.

Executive Functions

Executive dysfunction, a condition that often accompanies ADHD, can be combated with music therapy. Rhythmic exercises that require back-and-forth recall train working memory along with inhibitory control, both critical for executive functioning skills.

Emotional Regulation

Music can have calming and soothing effects on children, helping in the management of emotions and the reduction of anxiety.

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Emotional Regulation

Due to its non-verbal nature, music therapy can help children learn to identify and manage their emotions, particularly anxiety, in a way that does not involve words.

Self-Esteem and Confidence

Through creating music, learning to play instruments, and participating in group activities, children struggling with anxiety can boost self-esteem and confidence.

Coping Skills

With music therapy, children can learn and practice coping skills, such as relaxation techniques.

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The Nervous System

Music therapy can help children manage the physiological responses to trauma, such as increased heart rate and muscle tension, by promoting relaxation and grounding. Because this form of therapy stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, there is a promotion of relaxation and calming.

Safe Space for Expression

Music can help children develop a sense of agency and control. This empowers them to actively participate in their healing process. Children can explore and process their feelings without the pressure of verbalizing their trauma.

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Communication

Music can provide a safe and controlled environment for social interaction, encouraging eye contact, turn-taking, and sharing.

Relationship Building

Ensemble-based music activities offer opportunities to develop positive interactions between peers as well as strengthen the relationships between children, parents, and caregivers.

Structure

The predictable nature of many musical exercises can provide comfort and security for children with autism.

Multi-sensory Engagement

Because music engages multiple senses, music therapy can be beneficial for children with sensory processing differences.

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This U.K.-published article is highly relevant to U.S.-based conversations on music therapy, diversity, and inclusion, especially as the author, Hilary Davies, draws upon both international literature and universal clinical principles. Written from the insider perspective of an autistic music therapist, the study advocates for a paradigm shift in music therapy—from seeing autism as a disorder (pathology paradigm) to embracing it as a natural form of human diversity (neurodiversity paradigm). The article explains that viewing autism this way shifts therapeutic goals: rather than trying to “correct” behaviors like stimming, neurodiversity-affirmative therapy values such expressions as part of autistic culture and identity. This reframing has profound implications for how music therapists work with autistic clients, centering on strengths, communication preferences, and authentic self-expression. Davies emphasizes that autistic individuals are not problems to be solved but people to be understood. She draws on the minority stress model to explain how many of the difficulties autistic people face—such as anxiety or depression—stem not from autism itself but from living in a society designed for neurotypical norms. Through her personal reflections and research, Davies highlights the need for music therapy to confront unconscious bias, power dynamics, and ableist assumptions that may harm neurodivergent clients. The article discusses the emergence of neurodiversity-affirmative models in other fields and encourages music therapists to follow suit—incorporating lived experience, acknowledging identity-first language (e.g., "autistic person"), and respecting nonverbal forms of communication like echolalia and stimming. These should not be seen as deficits, Davies argues, but as valid modes of expression that can be musically supported and therapeutically engaged with. The article closes with a call to action: therapists must challenge the dominance of normalization-based practices (e.g., ABA-style interventions) and instead build equitable, client-centered approaches that support identity, autonomy, and social justice for neurodivergent people.

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As a whole, music therapy yields positive results in children who are neurodivergent, deeming it beneficial.

Let's take a look at the ways music therapy benefits children with different disorders and conditions:

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This website goes through all of the information parents could need when it comes to finding a music therapist in their area. We are taken through the what, who, where, how, and why when it comes to hiring the right therapist for their child.

What is music therapy?

-use of music and a trained professional to accomplish therapeutic goals with patients

What do music therapists do?

-They asses patients well being, physical health, cognitive skills and many other areas through a patients response to music

Where do music therapists work?

-many locations! hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, clinics are a few

Who is qualified to practice music therapy?

-people who have completed a bachelors degree and a masters degree in music therapy

-then they must get certified by the Certification Board for Music Therapy

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How to Find a Music Therapist | American Music Therapy Association (AMTA)

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Email or use our tools to find a Music Therapist in your area

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Certification Board for Music Therapists. Certification Board for Music Therapists, https://www.cbmt.org/. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.

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This is the website for the Certification Board for Music Therapists

This is an interesting source for parents because it shows how therapists must go through extensive testing and training to be able to do this job.

It may sound weird to people at first but taking a dive into the music therapy world will show you how much science is behind this field.

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CBMT promotes excellence in music therapy by awarding board certification based on proven, up-to-date knowledge and competence in clinical practice.

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This is a great resource for parents of children who are in the hospital. This article goes through the different ways for parents to support music therapy for their children. Ways such as participating in music therapy, buying music, and learning to play an instrument are discussed. This source is very helpful for parents who are looking to get involved in their kids treatment.

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“Introducing Helpful Ways for Parents to Support Music Therapy.” Peterson Family Foundation, https://petersonfamilyfoundation.org/music-therapy/introducing-helpful-ways-parents-support-music-therapy/. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

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This article from the Advocate Children's Hospital does a great job at explaining why music therapy can aid in the health journey of kids. Lots of resources are advocated for on this web page as well.

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Music Therapy | Child Life | Advocate Children’s Hospital

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The Child Life music therapy program at Advocate Children’s Hospital can help your child improve physically, mentally and emotionally during their hospital stay.

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“Music Therapy.” Advocate Children’s Hospital, https://www.advocatechildrenshospital.com/health-resources/support-services/child-life-program/music-therapy. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.