Music in the Hospital
Music can not only soothe the savage beast, it can actually help hospital patients in their recovery.
Recent research has shown that children exposed to music do better in math and other analytical skills. Music can also cause increases in the levels of serotonin and melatonin in the human brain. In other words, music affects us physically as well as psychologically. Cheryl Benze is a music therapist at Duke University Medical Center. Benze makes the rounds with the doctors and nurses, reviews files, and meets with patients. Benze might play an instrument or even teach a patient how to play, or use music to help a patient deal with emotional or health issues.
"The big issue for heart patients is stress management and pain management. So I can look and I can help address some of those problems using music. I can teach somebody how to actively listen to music for relaxation."
Benze tries to determine what kind of music the patient will respond to, find songs that relate to what they're feeling or going through, as well as songs that will encourage them to stay positive. Staff and administrators at the hospital say they consider music therapy to be a vital part of their patients' stay and recovery. I'm Tom Britt.