Music therapy is a method of alleviating the discomfort of mental disorders and symptoms, and here’s exactly how it helps:

• ADHD: According to the National Institute of Mental Health, ADHD stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It’s “a brain disorder marked by an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development.”

  Because music has rhythm, which provides structure, a brain with ADHD can be regulated to stay on a linear path. Kirsten Hutchinson, a music therapist at Music Works Northwest, said, “That structure helps an ADHD child plan, anticipate, and react.”

• Alzheimer’s and other dementias: According to Age UK, dementia is a progressive disorder affecting the brain’s abilities to remember, think, and reason. It’s a common symptom for Alzheimer’s disease, a mental deterioration due to the brain’s degeneration.

  “The power of music, especially singing, to unlock memories and kickstart grey matter is an increasingly key feature of dementia care,” said the organization’s website. “It seems to reach parts of the damaged brain in ways other forms of communication cannot.”

  According to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, “When used appropriately, music can shift mood, manage stress-induced agitation, stimulate positive interactions, facilitate cognitive function, and coordinate motor movements” due to the lack of cognitive processing required.

• Anxiety and stress: NIMH describes an anxiety disorder as “more than temporary worry or fear.” The feelings can interfere with career, social relationships, and education. A few examples include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder.

  Music therapy helps relax the mind by synchronizing a beat with alpha brainwaves (the brainwaves present when we feel relaxed and conscious). In a 2006 press release, Stanford University researchers said that, “listening to music seems to be able to change brain functioning to the same extent as medication.” Classical music is known for being a great stress reduction tool.

• Autism: Autism Speaks said, “Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development.” In varying degrees, this disorder creates difficulty in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, repetitive behaviors, motor coordination, and sleep habits.

  A 2004 experiment found that music improved the mapping of sounds to actions, and a 2009 study found that autistic children “showed more emotional expression and social engagement during music therapy sessions.” Lastly, a 2012 study found weekly music therapy sessions improved overall behavior, especially in inattentiveness, in autistic children.

• Cancer: The American Cancer Society published an article (later referenced by WebMD) in 2011 that said, “New research supports listening to recorded music, as well as music therapy, to improve anxiety, pain, mood, quality of life, heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure in cancer patients,” after Drexel University completed a study of almost 2,000 participants.
• Epilepsy: The Epilepsy Foundation defines epilepsy as “a condition of the brain causing seizures,” which is a disruption of the electrical communication between neurons.

  “One research study…found that when patients are treated with music therapy as well as conventional anti-seizure meds, as many as 80 percent of seizures were reduced by 75 percent.”

  This is because the brain doesn’t have a single center for processing music. The areas are widely scattered, so when the brain listens to highly structured music, like classical, the process is actually aided.

• Parkinson’s disease: Researchers are exploring if vibroacoustic therapy can help with Parkinson’s, a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects physical movement. The new form of therapy uses a low frequency sound to produce vibrations that are directly applied to the body. A 2009 study found that vibroacoustic therapy “led to improvement in…less rigidity and better walking speed with bigger steps and reduced tremors.”
• PTSD: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as “a debilitating mental health condition that is prevalent among combat Veterans.” A 2011 pilot study concluded that there was a positive benefit in relieving symptoms, including depression and “health-related quality of life,” when Veterans received an hour of individual guitar training per week and a weekly group instruction session.
• Schizophrenia: The NIMH defines schizophrenia as “a chronic and severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. People with schizophrenia may seem like they have lost touch with reality.”

  However, a 2006 study “found that adding music therapy to standard treatment for acutely ill inpatients with schizophrenia provided additional benefit over standard therapy alone.”

• Stroke: The National Stroke Association compares a stroke to a “brain attack…It occurs when blood flow to an area of brain is cut off,” which deprives cells of oxygen. When this happens, abilities controlled by that area of the brain are lost. Rhythmical music can help increase patient movement and improve muscular control. It has also been linked to improved cognition, including attention span, memory, organizational skills, and problem-solving.

When combined with traditional therapy and treatment per disorder, music therapy can provide a significantly positive outcome for patients. If you’re interested in helping the Frederick Symphony Orchestra’s educational mission to ensure music for all, please donate at the bottom of this page.