Langston has also worked in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, where music therapy has been used to help premature babies be introduced to different stimuli, such as touch, sucking and rocking. “Babies that are born premature are underdeveloped, so they don’t have all of the muscles of the lung capacity or the muscular movement,” she said. “Music helps to introduce those stimuli in a less abrasive way.” There are a variety of music therapy treatments, ranging from playing an instrument or hearing certain tunes. Treatment is adapted to the need of an individual. “Everything I do is based on their needs and how can we use the music aspect, what research do I know will support this,” Langston said. “It just really depends on the situation, the diagnosis, the environment, their physical capacity, mental capacity, emotional capacity.” Techniques can focus on learning coping skills, working on motor regulation, communicating in a positive way, regulating an environment, reducing anxiety or knowing relaxation methods. For patients with Parkinson’s disease, treatment all depends on the symptoms and what needs to be worked on. This could involve movement, verbalization, memory and more. While music therapy is considered an alternative to typical Western medicine, Langston does not believe it has the power to cure. “I definitely think it benefits the healing process because it can help relax the body, it can help the medication, it can help the body heal on its own, but it itself is not the thing that heals,” she said. “Music is just the tool that really promotes and supports the process.” Even though it may not be the cure to a person’s ailments, research shows it can be quite beneficial and help the healing process. It may not be the answer for some people, but it is a reasonable path for those who want to try something new. “It gives them the opportunity to try something that’s noninvasive, that’s not a pill,” Langston said. So, why is music therapy a course of treatment that should be considered? “We all listen to music,” she said. “It’s something that’s so a part of our daily lives that to not use it would be detrimental, in my opinion, because it’s everywhere.” SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018
OUR TOWN MAGAZINE
| 41
41