What is NMT

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What is NMT? 

Neurologic music therapy (NMT) is a standardized, research based system of techniques that help clients work towards achieving their goals through engaging in music interventions that are adapted in the moment to fit the client's needs. It is provided by a board-certified music therapist who has completed advanced training in neurologic music therapy. NMT is based on the scientific knowledge of the elements of music and the effect it has on brain and behavior functions. The goal is to help clients re-learn activities of daily living that may have been lost due to neurologic conditions including but not limited to traumatic brain injury, Parkinson's, stroke, or dementia. The music is the force that drives the change! NMT is focused on helping clients in areas of cognition, sensorimotor, and speech/language. Read below to find out how NMT helps in these 3 domains. 

How is NMT different from regular music therapy? 

Traditional music therapy often focuses more on social/emotional goals such as improving well-being, improving social skills, increasing relaxation, or decreasing depression/anxiety, whereas neurologic music therapy focuses more on rehabilitative goals such as increasing the length ambulated down a hallway, improving the ability to get up out of a chair, improving fluency of speech, or improving the ability to divide attention between two different tasks. 

How does NMT fit in with physical, occupational, and speech therapy? 

Neurologic music therapists often work on similar goals as would be addressed in physical, occupational or speech therapy; therefore, it's important for all disciplines to work together! Physical, occupational, and speech therapy are critical services in helping individuals rehabilitate from injury of loss of function due to neurologic condition. Neurologic music therapy is also a critical piece to the puzzle! When neurologic music therapy is utilized in conjunction with other therapies it can help clients expedite the progress made towards their goals because music cues a client's motor memory into relearning skills and the predictability of rhythm helps clients entrainment their movements or speech to a desired pace. Please refer to the Why NMT section under the About NMT tab to learn more about why music is beneficial.