Music May Ease Pain For Premature Babies

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - We know that music therapy is important for people with a wide variety of health issues and at all stages of life. Some of the most interesting information we have learned in recent years is that music for premature babies could lessen their pain and improve their feeding habits.

There are now at least ten studies focusing on music for babies that have revealed evidence that babies had less pain during medical procedures like needle sticks when they listened to music during the procedure. There was also some evidence that music could improve babies' oral feeding.

If you think about it, studies that focus on ways to help without interventions of medication or other treatments without potential side effects and cost are great. Tools we can find in our environment and things like music can make a big difference. As we get evidence to support this, it can clearly start to change the way we treat certain conditions or at the very least, help in how we deliver it.