The use of music therapy to assist children who have severe burns

Abstract

Music therapy is a valuable tool in distracting children with severe burns for the pain experienced in daily debridement baths. Music therapy allows choice, facilitating the child's sense of being in control. and provides an atmosphere of safety and comfort. This paper reports on the role of music therapy in assisting children aged from eighteen months to five years during daily debridement procedures in the burns unit of a children's hospital. Songs of the child's choice were sung by the therapist. accompanied by guitar. The observations of the therapist indicate that music therapy presented in this way can offer relief from anxiety prior to the bath and is helpful in comforting and distracting children during the bath.