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As a music therapist with University of Iowa Children's Hospital, a
part of University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Deanna
Hanson Abromeit has a positive impact on the developing
lives of many premature infants in the special care
nurseries. Very few nurseries offer music therapy, but
Abromeit's work and research over the past two years are
part of a growing body of evidence chronicling its positive
impact.
"The mystery is really how this happens," says Abromeit.
"When children are born prematurely their developmental
systems are not organized. The music seems to help infants
become better organized. I'll start to sing and we'll
usually see a positive change in behavior."
Currently, Abromeit is evaluating six babies born between
13 and 16 weeks early, exposing them to various forms of
music therapy including live music, recorded music, or no
music. Early findings suggest singing to premature babies
can help increase their oxygen levels, create a better heart
and respiration rate, and decrease agitation.
Abromeit has seen the long-term effects as she follows
the premature infants throughout their stay in the
hospital-in some cases, through their toddler years.
That's how Deanna touched the lives of Jim and Andrea
Steele and their now 15-month-old son Brock, who was born
prematurely. Brock was air-lifted to Children's Hospital of
Iowa, when he was five months old for respiratory distress.
He stayed there on and off for months because, in addition
to having a tracheotomy for respiratory problems, Brock has
a very rare condition in which two of the bones in his neck
are not fully formed.
"The first time I saw Deanna with him," Andrea Steele
says, "we came in the room and she handed him a drum and
told us he would start playing when she stopped playing the
guitar. I said, 'have you checked his chart, he's only six
months old.' But she played and when she stopped, he started
pounding on that drum and giggling. It was amazing to
see."
The family believed so much in the therapy that they
wanted to continue the work when Brock went home. Deanna
helped the Steeles hire a therapist in their hometown of
Fredricksburg, Iowa.
When insurance wouldn't cover the cost, the family found
funding from Project Pride through the Mercy Medical Center
Children at Home Project in New Hampton, Iowa. "Deanna
really made a difference for Brock," says Steele. "He just
lit up for music therapy. And it really helped medically.
Still when he's crying and clogging up his airway, we play
music and he starts to calm down. Our next child will have
music therapy regardless of the health situation."
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Music is a potent healer in the
eyes of Deanna Hanson Abromeit, who uses her gift for song
to enhance development of 15-month-old Brock
Steele.
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