In a recent study published in the JAMA Network Open , researchers assessed the impact of parent-led, infant-directed singing on language development at 24 months corrected age (CA) in preterm children during and after their neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay. Study: Music Therapy in Infancy and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Preterm Children . Image Credit: Prostock-studio/Shutterstock.
com Preterm birth affects 15 million neonates annually, increasing mortality, morbidity, and long-term neurodevelopmental issues. Although 90% of preterm newborns survive without impairments, their brains remain vulnerable, leading to cognitive and behavioral challenges. The NICU's auditory environment can negatively impact brain development, but early exposure to adult speech and parent-led, infant-directed singing can improve language and cognitive outcomes.
Music therapy (MT) has shown short-term benefits for stress and physiological stability. Further research is needed to determine effective MT approaches, implementation timing, and duration for improving neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm children. The Longitudinal Study of Music Therapy's Effectiveness for Premature Infants and Their Caregivers (LongSTEP) study involved a 2×2 factorial, multicenter, assessor-blind randomized clinical trial (RCT) with children and their parents across eight NICUs in Argentina, Norway, Colombia, Israel, and Poland from August 2018 to April 2022.
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