Hören – Brücke ins Leben

Until the beginning of this century music therapy in neonatal care has been underestimated within music therapy. However, in the last ten years it has become an important and serious area of work and research worldwide. Since the first edition of this book in German and English in 2003 music therapy in neonatal care underwent a significant development. In particularly research coming from other disciplines such as the neurosciences, early development and trauma therapy also in regards to bonding and prevention of developmental disturbances have led to support our work, to widen or modify its clinical practice. These aspects will be covered in this second updated editon. The book is an interdisciplinary piece of work, with contributions of music therapists,medical doctors of different areas, as well as development psychologists and psychotherapists. The content is presented in two parts. The first part deals with basic theories - the treatment concept, NIDCAP, with regard to hearing development, current research on auditive development, and the attachment formation with these very low birth weight infants. The following two chapters, dealing with psychological significance of musical elements: the meaning of the mother’s voice from the onset of prenatal life and the significance of music therapy for the development of regulative factors in mother-infant relationships, lead to the second clinical part. The second part presents an overview of individual music therapy approaches in research and clinical practice, qualitative and quantitative research with functional and psychotherapeutical aspects, using a wide palette of music and/or musical elements. In addition, the author elected to stress the benefits of music and music therapy as supportive method in medical problems, as an early intervention for the long term development of hospitalized infants and as a support for their parents. It is my objective to present these various approaches which support the clientele and current research methodology: music therapy approaches focused on the development of the infant, relationships and bonding and the infant’s unfolding ability to communicate. Each chapter contains research as well as clinical practice and personel experience, offering practical advice for implementing music therapy in NICUs. This book will hopefully meet the needs of various professionals in obtaining theoretical and practice-oriented information, support music therapy students, music therapists working in NICUs, and encourage doctors, nurses, and parents to use the benefits of music in these professional modes.