DEE GRAY IS a music therapist with LauraLynn children’s hospice. She spends her days helping children who are sick to express themselves.
She explained to TheJournal.ie that while some of the children can be very limited in their abilities, they can express themselves and feel heard through music.
“For children who are coming in with life limiting condition, it can enhance the quality of their life.
“Overall the goal is always about bringing family together and to improve the quality of life. Music can be non-verbal, so it’s non threatening for children who are nervous to express themselves.
They can express their feelings through a song or instrument in a much more accessible way. The children are well aware of their situation.
One family member said, “I found music therapy very beneficial. I saw him progress every week, it helped to improve his attention, turn-taking and communication”.
Gray said, “I have one little boy who is coming up with his own lyrics so he’s in control, he can only use one finger so can’t use instruments but he can hold a microphone and he gets a big voice from that where he can express himself. He’s now recording an album.”
Music therapists use music as tool to achieve therapeutic outcomes.
Gray said that some of the children she works with at LauraLynn may have a progressive condition and be physically limited but their mind may be perfect.
“For children who have significant communication and physical problems, we work through improvisation such as using a violin to copy their breathing patterns.
In some cases there’s very little they can do apart from using basic functions like their breath, but hearing is one of your last senses to go so we know that’s something we can work with.
“I try to communicate to them through music, the child might make little vocal sounds and I can match that. We’re trying to bring them into a low stimulus environment- we bring down the lights and try to help them to relax. It’s a multi-sensory experience.”
Memory making
Music therapy is also used for children who are nearing the end of their life. Gray said:
It’s a really difficult time but a really important time.
“These sessions are about memory making and legacy making. If the child is able we record songs or them singing their own songs.”
The parents will then be able to listen back to the music from when the family were together. Gray said, “It can really help with the whole grieving process.”
Asked if the work is very difficult emotionally, Dee said she find it very rewarding and humbling and feels privileged.
“You have to be very passionate about it, you’re working with people in very personal way.”
Children’s Hospice Week takes place from the May 11 – 15. LauraLynn is Ireland’s only children’s hospice providing paediatric palliative care in Ireland. For more information click here.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say