Neurological Music Therapy (NMT) is the research-based treatment for the patients having neurological disorders, which include autism and many other diseases. This treatment is based on utilizing the physiological mechanisms that is involved with music perception and creation of music.
Research shows that most individuals having autism respond positively to music. Their genuine interest for music makes it easier for them to undergo Music therapy. Music is a very basic human response that works with able as well as in case of disables. Music therapists meet their clients and allow their treatment from the very beginning. The malleability of music makes it acceptable to every individual. The structure and sensory input of music is its inherent quality, which establish a relationship with the listener.
Individuals who have autism spectrum might display "qualitative impairments in social interaction and communication" and often manifest "restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities." Music therapy is able to typically address the characteristic of autism.
Music therapy can stimulate clients to reduce negative response and increase participation in more appropriate and socially acceptable ways. It also reduces the self-stimulatory responses. Music therapy can enable those without language and verbal communication to participate in a non-verbal communicative way. Music therapy also assists in the development of verbal communication, speech and language skills. Both children and adult affected with autism reciprocate in shared-play, turn taking, listening and responding to another person. Music therapy allows the individuals with autism to develop identifications and appropriate expression of their emotions; because music can coordinate both the hemispheres of brain. Music can stimulate cognitive functioning and used for remediation of speech and language skills. Music provides concrete multisensory stimulation in auditory, visual and tactile senses.
The rhythmic component of music acts on sensory system of the individual having autism. As a result, auditory processing and other sensorimotor and motor skills can be controlled under music therapy. Many people with diagnosis on the autism spectrum have innate musical talents,Thus music therapy brings out their talents in a successful manner. Emphasis is given on internal strength, which in turn is utilized to address each individual`s personal need.
Recently the brain research is done in a more extensive fashion and study of music cognition and perception has encouraged research into biomedical applications of music. Music therapy can stimulate cognitive, affective and sensorimotor process of the brain and these functions can be transferred for non-musical therapeutic treatment also. Biomedical research in music concentrates on motor therapy, speech and language therapy, pain management and cognitive rehabilitation in the areas like memory, executive function and attention.
An important data base research is on the way of beginning to move neurological music therapy to the status of evidence-based treatment. The speech training is based on shared parameters of vocal production between speech and singing. It can be accessed to facilitate speech in rehabilitation. The common forms of communication such as signs and symbols as forms of meaningful expression in music and language can support language development and the recovery of communication functions.
A specific neurological music therapy protocol teamed with the apt guidance of the professional neurologic music therapist further aids in treating the speech and communication problem while answering to the common neurosis problems.
