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Sunday, October 14, 2007

Can Music Help a Brain Injury?


Have you heard of Acquired Brain Injury? (ABI) It's the leading killer and cause of disability in children and young adults. More than two million head injuries occur each year. Statistics show that the highest rate of injury occurs in young men between the ages of 15 and 24. ABI is an impairment of brain functioning that is physically or psychologically verifiable. Frequent causes of ABI are brain lesions caused by traumas such as auto accidents, falls, assaults and violence or sports injuries.

Can music make a difference?

The answer is a resounding yes! Persons with a brain injury can benefit from music as a modality to promote vocalization, rhythmic movements, orientation, relaxation, self-expression, and as a way to enhance overall self- esteem. Because music is processed by the entire brain, the structure of music helps to re-organize the structure of the brain. Listening to highly organized music such as that of Mozart often helps brain injured patients to organize their thoughts, activities and even their emotions.

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