Music Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis: How Neurologic Music Therapy Helps MS Symptoms
- Jen Hesse LPMT, MT-BC
- 9 hours ago
- 5 min read
In the United States, nearly 1 million people have been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), according to a 2019 study funded by the National MS Society1. March is recognized as National MS Awareness Month with a focus on additional advocacy, fundraising, research, and spreading knowledge during this time.
What is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?
While there are different types and severities of MS, all share the same mechanism. MS is a chronic condition in which the immune system attacks healthy cells in the brain and central nervous system. Specifically, it damages a part of nerve cells called the myelin sheath, which serves as a protective barrier to help cells transmit signals. As a result of this damage, the body experiences inflammation and a myriad of symptoms. While multiple treatment options exist to help manage symptoms and slow progression, at this time there is no cure for MS.
Common Symptoms of MS
Each case of MS is unique – no two individuals will have exactly the same symptoms or progression. External factors, such as weather, temperature, fatigue, and stress levels can also impact symptoms. Some of the most common symptoms of MS include:
Speech Symptoms:
Difficulty in muscle control in the mouth or tongue resulting in slurred speech or poor articulation
Low volume speech due to breath support issues
Having issues controlling the volume or pitch of your voice
Cognitive Symptoms:
Severe fatigue
Brain fog
Memory difficulties
Physical Symptoms:
Numbness or Tingling (pins and needles)
Weakness
Pain
Twitching or Spasms
Drop Foot or other Walking (Gait) Impairments
Balance issues
Vision Impairments
Can Neurologic Music Therapy® help people with MS?
Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT™) is a specialty of music therapy which uses the neuroscience of how our brains process music, sound, rhythm, and singing to target rehabilitative goals within neurologic populations. This includes MS as well as Stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). While traditional music therapy often focuses on important emotional and social support, NMT™ targets rehabilitative goals in three domains: Speech/Language, Cognition, and Physical/Motor skills.
What might NMT for MS look like?
Depending on the goal areas, NMT may look like moving in specific ways to therapist-created music, or it may look like playing simple instruments (even if you’ve never played an instrument before!).
To target the root cause of foot drop – weakness and instability of the ankle joint – the music therapist may have you sit at a bass drum or hi-hat cymbal, like the kinds on a drum set. By playing these instruments using pedals, the ankle joint is exercised with the added benefits of rhythm, physical and auditory feedback, motivation of playing along to preferred music, and utilizing the inherent repetition present in music.
Exercises and interventions targeting speech or cognitive skills utilize the same principles: using the joy of music in intentional ways to exercise different areas of the brain and body.
A Personal Note from our Neurologic Music Therapist Living with MS, Jen Hesse
I became a certified music therapist in the summer of 2022. I had completed my undergraduate degree, finished my internship, and got my first job here at Annapolis Music Therapy. In March of 2023, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. With hindsight I’ve seen that symptoms started years earlier, but at the time I went from feeling like a perfectly healthy 20-something to being diagnosed with a life-changing chronic illness overnight.
I won’t pretend that it was easy, especially not in the first year. It was a terrible experience that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. It is only with time and distance that I’m able to truly appreciate some aspects of my journey that wouldn’t have happened otherwise. One of the most rewarding has been my ability to passionately pursue Neurologic Music Therapy and seek out work with neurologic populations. Even the most well-meaning and empathetic medical professionals can not truly understand what it is like to be in certain situations. I can, at least more than many other professionals can say. I have been through my own medical ordeals and continue to explore the never-ending grief which comes with a lifelong diagnosis. I am extremely grateful to say that my health has stabilized. Now, it is my desire to use everything I have been through – good and bad – to support those who face neurologic conditions, including the very personal diagnosis of MS.
Music Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis in Annapolis, Maryland
Individuals living with Multiple Sclerosis in the Annapolis area often look for therapies that support both physical and cognitive functioning. At Annapolis Music Therapy, our board-certified music therapists use Neurologic Music Therapy® techniques to help clients work toward goals such as:
Improving coordination
Strengthening speech and breathing
Reducing cognitive fatigue and brain fog
Supporting memory and attention
Improving emotional wellbeing
Sessions are personalized to each client’s abilities and goals and may include movement to rhythm, therapeutic instrument playing, singing exercises, and cognitive music activities.
If you or a loved one is living with Multiple Sclerosis and looking for supportive therapies, Neurologic Music Therapy® may help improve mobility, speech, cognition, and emotional wellbeing.
Annapolis Music Therapy offers personalized sessions designed to support individuals with neurological conditions, like MS.
To learn more or schedule a consultation, contact our team:
FAQ
Can music therapy help people with Multiple Sclerosis?
Answer: Music therapy can help individuals with MS improve movement, coordination, speech, and cognitive functioning through the use of rhythm and structured musical exercises that stimulate neural pathways in the brain.
What is Neurologic Music Therapy?
Answer: Neurologic Music Therapy® is a research-based specialty of music therapy that uses rhythm, sound, and movement to help people with neurological conditions improve physical, cognitive, and communication skills.
What symptoms of MS can music therapy help with?
Answer: Music therapy may support individuals experiencing:
Walking or balance challenges
Speech Difficulties
Memory Problems
Fatigue and cognitive fog
Emotional stress related to chronic illness
Do you need musical experience for music therapy?
Answer: No musical experience is required. Music therapy uses simple instruments and guided activities designed for therapeutic goals rather than musical performance.
Key Takeaways:
Multiple Sclerosis affects nearly 1 million people in the U.S.
MS symptoms can include mobility challenges, speech issues, fatigue, and cognitive changes
Neurologic Music Therapy® uses rhythm and music-based exercises to support brain function
Music therapy can help improve many MS symptoms and emotional wellbeing
No music experience is needed to participate in music therapy
“MS Prevalence.” National Multiple Sclerosis Society, www.nationalmssociety.org/about-the-society/who-we-are/research-we-fund/ms-prevalence. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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