Neurologic Music Therapy delivers positive progress after brain injury

After Mark sustained brain injury, Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) has helped him to make strong progress in his rehabilitation and confidence. Here, ILS case manager Eliot shares his story and the valuable gains Mark continues to make

In 2017, Mark sustained a hypoxic brain injury. Now in his mid-40s, Mark has been residing in a slow-stream rehabilitation unit for the last four years, and receiving support from ILS Case Management case manager, Eliot, for the past year. Here, he shares his client’s story

“Mark has very poor memory as a result of his injury and therefore doesn’t know where he is or understand why he is there,” says Eliot.

“Sadly, his care provision had been extremely poor due to a high turnover of staff and changing management at his current facility, and when I met Mark he would often spend his days just wandering aimlessly around the unit.

“He was not enjoying a good quality of life, which was devastating to see.

“As part of my initial assessment, and discussions with his sister, Lisa, who is Mark’s primary contact, I learnt that Mark had enjoyed music – either playing the guitar or attending gigs, before his accident, and it became clear that Mark needed to access something that he could enjoy in the moment.

“I felt a neurologic music therapist would be a great place to start and was aware of Chroma from conversations I’d had previously with the managing director, Daniel Thomas.”

Chroma was formed in 2013 by an experienced group of therapists who wanted to change the way creative arts therapies were delivered and their outcomes measured. Their therapists understand the importance of evidencing therapeutic goals and use the voice of their clients as a primary element in this, an approach shared by the team at ILS. 

Neurologic music therapy (NMT) is a model of music therapy that is guided by research to address functional changes for people with neurological disorders. It involves a collection of techniques that use the perception, production and performance of music to stimulate, shape, and change movement dynamics, speech and language skills and cognitive skills.

Eliot contacted Chroma and arranged an initial meeting at the rehab unit with Chroma therapist Jon Fever, alongside Mark and Lisa, where they set out their aims and goals for the sessions.

After the first few visits, Jon observed: “From the initial session, Mark showed real motivation for music making.

“He found real enjoyment in feeling more connected with the rhythm of the music, which was especially true with livelier and empowering songs you might traditionally associate with big gig venues or sociable nights out.”

The sessions have also helped provide Mark with a sense of routine and given him something to look forward to.

Jon recalls: “Mark appeared increasingly aware of the process and structure of our session. On my arrival he would meet me at the front entrance, show me up to the appropriate room and grab his guitar from across the hallway.

“With each visit I would ask if he remembered me and he would often reply with a flat ‘yeh,’ but as the sessions progressed, he would respond with confidence and a smile.”

Reflecting on the effects of the therapy, Eliot told us: “The sessions have been incredibly positive for Mark. It’s been wonderful to hear how, over the course of therapy, Mark has actively participated and has increasingly performed with a deep sense of musical pulse and intensity.

“He has shown increased motivation and awareness of the session structure, which is wonderful.

“The positive effects of music as a means of therapy cannot be underestimated and have proven, in Mark’s case, to be the key to ‘bringing him to life’ in an otherwise unmotivating environment.

“The sessions have reignited Mark’s longstanding interest in music and participating in musical activities. It has given him some of his identity back. His quality of life is better since he has been engaging in the sessions. He will engage in a session for a whole hour, whereas when I first met him he would wander out of a meeting after 15 minutes. Other residents at the rehab unit are now interested in exploring music therapy. 

“I look forward to seeing Mark’s potential being unlocked further by this engaging process.”