Scientists are using cutting edge technology to develop a prototype analysis tool that will enable music therapists to analyse the work they do and hence provide objective evidence of their patients’ progress over a number of music therapy sessions.

At the moment therapists have no standardised method of quantifying the results of the work they do, but increasingly there is pressure on anyone working in the NHS to provide this kind of evidence.

Patients with neuro-disability often find it difficult to express themselves in words but with specialist help such as that provided by music therapists, they can maximise their potential for communication and even begin recovery. Lead researcher Elaine Streeter explains, “Music reflects emotions and feelings, people who cannot communicate through speech often have no outlet for their emotions and get very frustrated, so sharing a musical mood is a way for the patient to say to the therapist ‘This is how I feel’, it allows them a vehicle for expression.”

The team was awarded £44000 from the WRHIP Proof of Concept fund to carry out the initial development work on this project, Elaine Streeter says, “The collaboration possible through White Rose has been absolutely invaluable and has taken the project from a one person idea to a six person collaborative team bringing audio technology, computer programming and clinical expertise together to solve a problem; how do we explain how music therapy works?”

Find out more at www.musictherapylogbook.com .