PEDIATRICS
Music Therapy can help the hospitalized child to attain an increased mastery over a strange environment. In addition, the presence of the Music Therapist is perceived in most cases as less threatening than that of other medical staff. This enables the child to form the feelings of security and trust which are lacking in the secondary disturbances sometimes resulting from prolonged hospital stays, painful procedures, and varying degrees of immobilization (McDonnell 1979). These disturbances may include, but are not limited to regression, withdrawal, acting out, and oppositional behavior. The use of familiar songs, instruments, musical games, and other materials can give the child the opportunity to meet his or her own psychosocial needs, making the hospital experience more positive (Marley 1984).
Purpose:
- To provide sensory stimulation to pediatric patients demonstrating decreased environmental awareness.
- To provide a nonthreatening means of expressing feelings associated with hospitalization.
- To provide distraction from medical procedures in order to increase compliance.
Objectives:
- Patient will demonstrate increased awareness of surroundings through the presentation of auditory, visual, tactile, and olfactory stimuli by the Music Therapist.
- Patient will increase range of expressive behaviors through the use of verbal and nonverbal music activities.
- Patient will demonstrate increased compliance with medical procedures and self-care expectations by engaging in directive music activities.
Membership:
- Patient who is referred by nursing staff or physicians.
- Patient who demonstrates a decrease in environmental awareness.
- Patient who exhibits characteristics of one or more of the secondary disturbances listed above.
- Patient who has difficulty expressing himself/herself.
- Patient who is non-compliant with medical procedures.
Number in Group: Individual sessions.
Frequency: To be determined by the therapist according to the individual’s specific needs.
