How is music therapy used in neonatal intensive care units?

Music therapy is a highly specialized clinical practice utilized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to support the development and health of premature infants.1

Research indicates that the structured application of music therapy in this setting can provide significant clinical benefits, such as improving feeding behaviors in premature infants. By supporting these developmental milestones, music therapy can contribute to reduced lengths of hospital stays and lead to meaningful cost savings for healthcare systems. As an allied health profession, this practice is delivered by trained therapists who use music as a powerful, familiar medium to address specific nonmusical goals outside the scope of traditional nursing or physician care.1