Music Therapy Services in Neurorehabilitation: An International Survey

For decades music therapy has increasingly shown benefits in addressing the complex needs of people undergoing neurorehabilitation. To the best of our knowledge, no study has yet examined the real-world situation of music therapy services in the extensive field of neurorehabilitation. This study aimed to explore the scope and prevalence of the populations served, goals formulated, as well as approaches and interventions being used in music therapy services in neurorehabilitation. A 25-item online survey was distributed using snowball sampling method. The participants were credentialed professional music therapists around the world with experience working in neurorehabilitation. Outcomes indicated an extensive scope of music therapy services currently being provided in neurorehabilitation. The most prevalent clinical population served by survey participants was acquired brain injury. Attention was the most frequently addressed clinical goal. The majority of the participants applied a Neurologic Music Therapy approach and frequently used singing-based interventions when working in neurorehabilitation. This study suggests that music therapy services in neurorehabilitation were extensive in both populations served and goals addressed. Future research should focus on the most prevalent music therapy goals and interventions currently offered in clinical practice