Saturday, April 20, 2013

Sounds to Cure

Sounds can have a powerful effect on living beings - humans, animals, plants. Relaxing music can have a healing effect. A new study showed this specifically for premature babies.

Live ocean disc whoosh sounds, gato box rhythms, and parent's sung
lullabies - these sounds have been found to be especially beneficial increasing infants' capacity to feed, sleep, and self-regulate.

Baby's hearing develops in the womb. The very first sound unborn baby hears at about 16 weeks of development is the mother's heartbeat. Gato - a small rectangular wooden drum - creates a rhythm in soft timbre that reminds the heartbeat. Ocean waves resemble the fluid sounds of the womb, as well as inhalation and exhalation sounds. And a sweet lullaby could definitely soothe anyone who has problems trying to get to sleep or suffer with insomnia - as this is one of the oldest, most natural forms of human interaction that brings feelings of warmth and togetherness.

REFERENCES
Loewy J, Stewart K, Dassler AM, Telsey A, Homel P.The Effects of Music Therapy on Vital Signs, Feeding, and Sleep in Premature Infants. Pediatrics. 2013 Apr 15. [Epub ahead of print