Informative Essay On Receptive Music Therapy

In the United States, preterm birth has been on a steady increase, because we now have the medical technology to keep very small underdeveloped babies alive.Treating complications from preterm birth can be very expensive, but more affordable alternatives are currently being researched. One of the most promising is receptive music therapy, a brand of therapy that is flexible in that it can actively involve the family of the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) baby; currently, it’s spreading to NICUs around the nation. Some specialists advocate for using the mother’s voice and heartbeat, as well as the father’s voice, and familial music taste. Because it allows and encourages the attachment of parents and child and directly involves the parents, music therapy is uniquely beneficial to familial emotional health and offers a human touch along with proven medical benefits.

Outline

II. Medical Setting

According to the CDC, an infant is considered prematurely born when they are born prior to the full-term 37 weeks of gestation. A related concern is low birth weight, where the infant weighs under 5 pounds. The associated risks with preterm birth and low birth weight include _________, which can be monitored and treated in the NICU. The NICU stands for neo-natal intensive

However, there may be obstacles to these: underdeveloped lungs may require pressurized chamber to aid with development, therefore holding the infant might not be possible. Also, the very premature infant can have underdeveloped, sensitive skin, making physical touch nearly impossible at that stage. Additionally, if the infant is in a very specialized level of the NICU, the parents might not be allowed in yet, or work schedules and other children might conflict with any time the parents would have with the new preterm