The Effect of Music Therapy on Preterm Infants’ Neurodevelopment
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Authors
Kemp, Phoebe
Hynson, Kira
Bubb, Nicholas
Date of Issue
2023-04-28
Type
Presentation
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Abstract
Preterm infants can suffer a decrease in neurodevelopment because of the lack of time they have in the womb to develop fully. A preterm infant is defined as any baby born before 37 weeks of gestation (World Health Organization, 2022). Compared to an infant born at full term, preterm infants can suffer from an increased risk of mortality and neurological deficits that extend throughout their lives (Woythaler, 2019). According to the CDC (n.d.), in the United States one out of every 10 babies are born preterm and thus the issue of decreased neurodevelopment is prominent. One key area of development that is diminished, due to preterm birth, is in the brain. Neurodevelopment is the process in which neurons and synaptic connections form to construct an individual’s ability to learn, focus, make decisions, and socialize, etc. (Oliphant & Lu, 2020). The purpose of this Evidence-Based Practice review is to examine the effect that music therapy has on the neurodevelopment of preterm infants. Nurses or other healthcare providers can use this information as an intervention to promote and improve the neurodevelopment and functional brain activity of preterm infants during their stay in the hospital and as a recommendation to parents beyond their hospital stay.