Neurologic Music Therapy

Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) is a music therapy model based on neuroscience, the scientific study of the nervous system. NMT is a therapeutic application of music to cognitive, sensory, and motor dysfunctions due to neurologic disease of the human nervous system.^[1] The population served by NMT include: stroke, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson's and Huntington's disease, cerebral palsy, Alzheimer's disease, autism, and other neurological disease affecting cognitive, movement, and communication (e.g., MS, Muscular Dystrophy, etc). NMT is research-based and its treatment techniques are based on the scientific knowledge in music perception and production and the effects thereof on nonmusical brain and behavior functions^[2] .

Clinical Techniques

Neurologic music therapy uses a research-based system of standardized clinical techniques used for sensorimotor training, speech and language training, and cognition training. NMT techniques include^[3]

• Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS): Facilitates rehabilitation of movements that are intrinsically biologically rhythmical.

• Patterned Sensory Enhancement (PSE): Uses rhythmic, melodic, harmonic and dynamic aspects of music to provide temporal, spatial and force cues for movement.

• Therapeutic Instrumental Music Playing (TIMP): Uses playing musical instruments to exercise and stimulate functional movement patterns.

• Speech Stimulation: Uses musical and song patterns to stimulate non-propositional speech.

• Melodic Intonation Therapy (MIT): A technique for aphasia rehabilitation, it utilizes client's unimpaired ability to sing to facilitate spontaneous and voluntary speech.

• Rhythmic Speech Cueing (RSC): Uses rhythmic cueing to control the initiation and rate of speech through cueing and pacing.

• Vocal Intonation Therapy (VIT): Intoned phrases simulating the prosody, inflection and pacing of normal speech.

• Therapeutic Singing (TS): Allows to practice articulation or initiation of speech as well as increase breath control and posture.

• Oral Motor and Respiratory Exercises (OMREX): Uses different musical elements to practice muscular control of a speech apparatus to facilitate the production of specific sounds.

Profession

A board certified music therapist who is professionally trained according to the standards of their country must complete a foundational training in neurologic music therapy and may use the professional designation of NMT to become a member of the Academy for three years. Completion of the NMT training allows the board-certified music therapist to practice and use the credential of NMT^[4] .

References

1. ^ Thaut, Michael (1999). Training manual for neurologic music therapy. Colorado State University: Center for Biomedical Research in Music. 
2. ^ Thaut, Michael. "Robert F. Unkefer Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy". The Center for Biomedical Research in Music at Colorado State U.. http://www.colostate.edu/dept/cbrm/academymissionstatement.html. Retrieved 2 August 2011. 
3. ^ "Neurologic Music Therapy Techniques". Summit Music Therapy Services. http://www.summitmusictherapy.com/pdfs/NMTTechniques1.pdf. Retrieved 8 August 2011. 
4. ^ Thaut, Michael. "Robert F. Unkefer Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy". The Center for Biomedical Research in Music at Colorado State U.. http://www.colostate.edu/dept/cbrm/academymissionstatement.html. Retrieved 2 August 2011. 

See also

• Music Therapy