What Is Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT)? 

Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) is a therapeutic approach that uses music to help your child achieve therapeutic goals related to their cognitive, motor, and speech abilities. This form of therapy has been found to be especially useful in helping people of all ages overcome difficulties related to their neurological development. 

NMT incorporates  music-based activities that target your child’s specific therapeutic goals. The therapist may assess and use a range of musical elements such as rhythm, melody, timbre, harmony and form to help your child progress. These musical elements can be experienced through activities such as singing, chanting, verbalising, listening and playing a musical instrument. How Are Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) and Music Therapy Different? 

You may be wondering how neurologic music therapy (NMT) is different from regular music therapy. While both forms of therapy use music as an intervention to help people reach therapeutic and rehabilitation goals, they differ when it comes to methods used. 

• Music Therapy: Music therapists primarily use existing songs and improvisation with instruments to promote social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and even spiritual development. 
• NMT: On the other hand, NMT is a specialised form of music therapy specifically designed for clients with movement disorders or cognitive impairments. NMT engages clients in complex motor and cognitive activities by integrating sensory processing, movement training, cognition training and therapist-created song writing activities. 

NMT has proven to be beneficial for helping rehabilitate cognitive functioning, prime motor skills, and speech expression in kids with developmental disorders. With the help of neurologic music therapy practitioners who are certified in the field and have completed specialised NMT training programmes, you can offer your child the chance to restore their quality of life through an innovative approach. 

Benefits of Each Therapy 

If you’ve learned about both NMT and music therapy, you may be wondering which one is the best choice for your child. The simple answer is that it depends on their individual needs. However, it doesn’t hurt to understand some of the major benefits of both therapies: 

Neurologic Music Therapy 

Neurologic music therapy (NMT) is a type of therapy in which specialised musical activities are used to promote changes in physical strength and coordination, cognitive functioning, and speech expression. 

NMT has been found to be especially effective for improving: 

• Physical strength 
• Balance 
• Coordination 
• Cognitive functioning (attention, memory and executive functions)
• Speech expression 
• Quality of life levels 

Music Therapy 

Music therapy t uses music as a tool to help individuals develop communication and emotional skills. Through music activities such as song writing and singing, it can help people learn how to express themselves creatively and gain better social skills. It can also be used to improve self-awareness, self-esteem, emotion regulation, motor coordination and the development of many other life skills. 

Choosing the Right Music Therapy Service 

Choosing the right music therapy service for your family depends on what your needs are. Generally, NMT and Music Therapy can both be beneficial in helping to rehabilitate cognitive functioning, prime motor skills and expression speech in children. 

Here are some other points to consider when choosing which type of service to use for your family: 

NMT 

• Focuses on individual goals and skills development 

• Promotes cognitive development in areas like communication, physical coordination, social skills and academic success 
• Ideal for children who may have difficulties with language processing 
• Utilises music to rewire neural pathways in the brain associated with higher cognitive functions 

Music Therapy 

• Takes a broader approach by incorporating the whole family dynamics into treatment plans 
• Uses music as a common language to promote connection among family members 
• Examining the Costs of Music and Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) 

How Spring Forward Family Centre Provides Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) 

Music Therapy and Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) are two separate and distinct modalities that utilise music as a therapeutic approach to promote positive change in the body. At Spring Forward Family Centre, we provide Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT). 

NMT is based on the principles of neuroscience and applies to interventions related to: 

• Cognitive functioning 
• Priming motor skills 
• Speech expression 

NMT is specifically designed to assess neurological function, identify areas of progress or delay, and then make meaningful changes in neurological organisation. Our NMT therapists use music activities such as singing, playing instruments, and rhythmic activities to rehabilitate cognitive functioning, prime motor skills, and speech expression. 

At Spring Forward Family Centre, our expert NMT therapists are certified in Neurologic Music Therapy from the Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy and have over fiveyears of experience working with children with special needs. We strive for each families’ needs to be successfully addressed so that their children can make more progress. 

Conclusion 

Music Therapy and NMT are both well-respected treatments used to address a variety of cognitive, motor and speech issues in children.  

At our practise, we tailor treatments to each child’s unique needs, drawing from our expertise and experience in both NMT and Music Therapy to ensure the best outcomes for the child and their family. With our holistic approach, we can help you ensure your child makes progress and progresses in their recovery. Contact us for more information.