23.7. 1993 Vitoria-Gasteiz / Spain - World Federation of Music Therapy

For example, we must consider what it means and how
it feels to have, following a stroke or other braindamage,
a loss of visual fields so that one sees only
half of whatever is presented. How does this affect the
person's playing of musical instruments, their behaviour
towards others, both inside and outside music therapy
sessions? Does the family understand why the person
may seem "different" in their family relationships? Can
we help them understand what has happened and then
go on to use music in an attempt to bring them together
again?
Such understanding is not gained through music alone
but by reading about the effects of hemianopia, learning
about family dynamics following disability, learning
about grief following the loss of a part of one's sensory
"equipment", and so on.
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We also need to know what the outlook is - do we
comfort the person by saying "It may get better in time"
or do we have to help the person and the family accept
that the damage is permanent?
We need to know whether the person will Jeteriorate,
e.g. in Upper Motor Neurone Disease, Huntington's
disease, arthritis, Parkinson's disease, the Dementias.
Or it may be that the person will improve gradually, as in
Guilliame Barre syndrome, that terrifying viral-caused
paralysis. Or it may be known that the illness will soon
terminate in death. or it may be relatively static, as in
many completed strokes.
The decision as to who speaks to the client and family