ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the long-term developmental effects of a NICU music therapy intervention, Multimodal Neurologic Enhancement, provided to preterm infants in the NICU. DESIGN: Prospective randomized controlled study with one control group and one experimental group. SAMPLE: Participants were medically stable preterm infants with a birth age of 31 and 6/7 weeks or less, admitted to a level-III NICU. A total of 84 participants were enrolled, and 48 completed the study. MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLE: Post-discharge developmental scores on the Mullen Scales of Early Learning: AGS Edition. RESULTS: The experimental group performed significantly better than the control group on the Visual Reception and Early Learning Composite scores.
Subject(s)
Developmental Disabilities/prevention & control , Infant Behavior/physiology , Infant, Premature , Intensive Care Units, Neonatal/organization & administration , Music Therapy/methods , Child Development , Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Length of Stay , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Pilot Projects , Pregnancy , Prospective Studies , Reference Values , Tertiary Care Centers , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a live music intervention provided by the mother on full term infants' amount of crying and parent-infant interaction in the first six weeks of life. DESIGN AND METHODS: A randomized posttest-only experimental/no-contact control group design was used for this study. A sample of 66 mothers with healthy, newborn infants were recruited. The researcher wrote an original lullaby with each mother in the experimental group and gave instructions as to how to use the lullaby as reinforcement for infant quiet, non-crying behavior. Mother-infant dyads were assessed over a six-week period for infant crying amounts and parent-infant interaction behaviors. Demographic variables, postpartum depression, and value of music were assessed as well to detect associations between variables and groups. RESULTS: Results indicated that there were significant differences between groups for mean crying time per week and mother-infant interaction behaviors. Analysis by demographic variables such as mother parity, socioeconomic status, and marital status showed no significant group differences on infant crying or interaction scores. Mothers who used the contingent music intervention were more motivated to sing and valued the use of music with their infants more than mothers in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes of this study demonstrate importance of parental singing for mother-infant bonding. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Implementing early intervention services, such as music therapy in the postpartum unit, can provide new mothers useful music applications that can enhance mother-infant interaction, especially mothers living in high stress or negative environments.
Subject(s)
Crying/psychology , Mother-Child Relations , Music/psychology , Female , Florida , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Kentucky , Male , Object AttachmentABSTRACT
Early exposure to age-appropriate, meaningful auditory stimuli, such as lullaby singing, has been shown to advance various medical and developmental goals in premature infants in the NICU while reducing medical costs. A primary goal of NICU music therapists is to control auditory stimuli in the unit to help premature infants reach the greatest possible sedation. In hospitals with limited or no NICU music therapy (NICU-MT) coverage, nurses and other NICU staff can play an important role in providing neuroprotection to these premature infants while also optimizing neurodevelopment via use of recorded music. Based on current literature, this article provides a set of evidence-based guidelines for the use of recorded music with premature infants.