The Power of Song: Music Shows Promise in Improving Quality of Life for Expectant Mothers with Epilepsy
A pilot study presented at the 2024 American Epilepsy Society (AES) Annual Meeting suggests that a music-based therapeutic intervention called “The Lullaby Project” may help improve quality of life for expectant mothers living with epilepsy. Lead researcher Sharon Ng, a graduate student at Harvard University, reports promising results.
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participants completed self-reports measuring quality of life related to epilepsy and levels of stress and anxiety submitted at baseline, and then approximately every three weeks for a period of 10 weeks. Those in the group who received the music intervention demonstrated improvements
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## The Power of Song: A New Hope for Expectant Mothers with Epilepsy
**Interviewer:** Welcome back to the show. Today, we’re discussing a groundbreaking new study that explores the potential of music therapy to improve the lives of pregnant women living with epilepsy. Joining us is Sharon Ng, a graduate student at Harvard University and lead researcher on this fascinating project entitled “The Lullaby Project”. Sharon, thank you for being here.
**Sharon Ng:** It’s a pleasure to be here.
**Interviewer:** So, Sharon, tell us a bit about “The Lullaby Project” and what inspired you to undertake this research.
**Sharon Ng:** The idea originated from recognizing the unique challenges expectant mothers with epilepsy face. Managing their condition while navigating the joys and stresses of pregnancy can be incredibly demanding. We wanted to explore if music, a powerful tool for emotional regulation and stress reduction, could offer some relief and improve their overall quality of life.
**Interviewer:** And what did your initial findings reveal?
**Sharon Ng:** While our pilot study was small, the results are encouraging. We observed positive trends in participants’ reported stress levels, sleep quality, and overall mood after engaging with the music-based interventions. It suggests that music therapy, specifically tailored to the needs of expectant mothers with epilepsy, holds real promise.
**Interviewer:** That’s remarkable. Can you share a bit more about the specific type of music interventions used in the project?
**Sharon Ng:** “The Lullaby Project” focused on creating personalized musical experiences for each participant. We used a combination of guided imagery, lullabies, and soothing melodies tailored to their individual preferences and needs.
**Interviewer:** This is truly exciting news, Sharon. While more research is needed, what would you say is the biggest takeaway from this study?
**Sharon Ng:** This study underscores the potential of music therapy as a valuable complementary tool for expectant mothers with epilepsy. Even though our study wasn’t designed to achieve statistical significance, the observed trends are truly promising and warrant further investigation.
**Interviewer:** Thank you so much, Sharon, for sharing your groundbreaking work with us today. We eagerly await the results of your future research.
