Some studies support the therapeutic use of listening to music and others do not. One study showed that pregnant women exposed to music during labor had less pain and anxiety than women not exposed to music.

I am continually impressed with the effect music has on a person's physical and mental health. It is not merely an impression because medical studies substantiate this view.

In the early 1990s, researchers published studies indicating that listening to a concerto by Mozart increased a person's IQ score by about 10 points, though this increase does not last long. Other studies showed a decrease in the number of epileptic seizures in people who listened to music by Mozart.

However, not all studies have agreed with these findings and question the so-called "Mozart effect."

There are also studies regarding patients who were awake while undergoing various procedures in a cardiac laboratory and listened to background music. Results showed that they had less anxiety and a better sense of well-being during and after the procedure than patients who were exposed to the normal sounds present in the laboratory.

Another study showed that pregnant women exposed to music during labor had less pain and anxiety than women not exposed to music. Music was also found to help relieve pain present in cancer patients. In this study, patients chose their music as a method to relieve pain. Results showed that those who listened to their music did experience pain relief.

However, in another study, patients who listened to music while having a sigmoidoscopy, or examination of the rectum, did not have any significant pain reduction while undergoing this procedure.

There are many other studies concerning the effects music can have when used in a therapeutic manner. Some studies support the therapeutic use of music and others do not.

There is a popular saying in medicine: "First of all, do no harm." It's very unlikely that music, medically speaking, does any significant harm. The question is, does it do any good?

So, let researchers continue to argue about whether or not listening to music provides any therapeutic benefits. But for patients who are comforted by listening to music during difficult medical times, when possible, arrangements should be made to allow them to listen to their favorite tunes.
