ORU Uses Music To Improve Quality Of Life For People

We all know, music can make us happy and it can also make us sad.

Music can also be good therapy. 

A clinic at ORU is using music to improve the quality of life for patients of all ages.

Bill Rischard has a  regular session with Dr. Hyun-Jung Lee at the Music Therapy Clinic at Oral Roberts University. 

Bill has Parkinson's Disease.

He's been coming to the clinic since January.

Dr. Lee's instrument is an auto harp. 

"I'm going to use the auto harp to provide a strong steady beat," Lee said. 

Bill exercises in time to her strumming and her singing. He could not do this nearly as well without the music.

He also walks with that shuffling gait characteristic of Parkinson's patients.

But when Dr. Lee adds the music, Bill is able to in effect bypass the Parkinson's and walk in time to the music.

Bill's wife Mary said he's stronger and more active.

"I don't think he'd be where he is if he didn't have this kind of therapy," Mary said. 

Four-year-old Quinn Elias was diagnosed with hydrocephalus shortly after she was born, which is water on the brain and cerebral palsy.

The program her therapist, Jacquie Cox, has created for her is designed to help her respond more quickly to cues she receives.

Quinn's mom Megan said she loves the music and since the therapy is embedded in the music, Quinn is having fun and the therapy is working.

Bill and Quinn are two patients whose quality of life and health is better because of something called music therapy at ORU. 

For more information about Music Therapy Clinic at ORU, visit the website.