Sound and Music for Dementia

For more info and products go to www.SoundForDementia.com

Types

Causes

Signs and Symptoms

Current Treatments

Conceptual Framework and Theoretical Basis for Approach

Create Peace with Sound, Voice, Instruments, Music and Vibration

Types of People

Safety Guidelines

Intake Questions

Sound and Music for Dementia

Medical Details

This section provides information about the issue, known causes, common signs and symptoms and current treatments.

Definition

Dementia is a term used to describe a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking and social abilities that interfere with functions of daily living. Dementia isn’t one specific disease, several diseases and issues can cause dementia.

Types

Alzheimer’s

Most common cause of dementia, 60-70% of cases are Alzheimer’s.

Vascular Dementia

Results from problems with blood vessels in the brain. For example the brain receives too little oxygen-rich blood, or bleeding occurs due to too much pressure on the blood vessels.

Frontotemporal Dementia

Results from damage to the frontal lobe of the brain, characterized by a change in behavior.

Lewy Body Dementia

Results from abnormalities in nerve cells in the cerebral cortex. Can be difficult to recognize because symptoms and intensity can vary from day to day. Shares similar symptoms as Parkinson’s disease.

Reversible Dementia

This is not classic dementia but is from an underlying issue causing dementia symptoms such as sleep medications, vitamin deficiency, syphilis, depression, or urinary tract disorder. It’s estimated that 11% of the population is affected.

Causes

Dementia is caused by damage to or loss of nerve cells and their connections in the brain.

Genetic predisposition
Damage to blood vessels that supply the brain
Buildup of plaques and proteins in the brain
Huntington’s disease
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Parkinson’s disease
Infections
Immune disorders
Metabolic or endocrine problems
Nutrient deficiency, especially vitamin B-1, B-6, B-12, copper or vitamin E
Medicine side effects
Subdural bleeding
Brain tumors
Down’s syndrome
Too much alcohol
Sleep problems may increase risk

Signs and Symptoms

Cognitive changes
Memory loss
Difficulty with problem solving
Slowed thinking
Loss of focus & organization
Visual hallucinations
Uncoordinated or slow movement
Tremors
Stiffness
Personality and behavior changes
Changes in speech

Current Treatments

There is no cure for dementia but treatments can help slow progression and reduce severity of some symptoms.

Prescribed medications:

To reduce symptoms
To slow disease progression

Herbal and Nutritional Supplements

Conceptual Framework and Theoretical Basis for Approach

This section provides the theoretical basis for using specific sounds and music for the particular issue. It is the “why.” Why do we think our approach makes sense for the particular issue? This theoretical framework will likely be refined over time as we learn more and do more research. There are a large number of ways to use sound, music and vibration to create treatments based on this overall framework. The section below, “Treatments with Sound,” provides many options with much more detail.

Early Stages – Activation to get more blood flow to the brain. Music and exercises that activate the brain are helpful, but it is important to not overwhelm.

Later Stages – Calming because they can be irritable. Consistent tones and rhythms create coherence, peace and stability.

Create Peace with Sound, Voice, Instruments, Music and Vibration

Peace and harmony are the basis of health. When we experience a state of peace, body and mind are relaxed and the natural healing response kicks in.

Stable consistent sounds and flowing music overcome chaotic vibrations in the brain creating peace and coherence throughout the brain, emotions and whole body.

(This section is good for all issues except where people are extremely fragile – CLICK HERE to see more detail)

Listening

Frequencies

a. Coherent vs. Chaotic frequencies

b. Archetypal Frequencies

c. Low Frequencies

d. Frequencies for Specific Parts of the Body

e. Frequencies for a Person’s Whole System

Sounds

a. Consistent Stable Sounds

b. Warm Sounds

c. Sounds for Breaking up Energy

- Dissonant Sounds

- Odd Harmonics

- Rhythms and Binaural Beats

Musical Intervals – Harmonious

a. Unison

b. Octave

c. Perfect 5th

d. Perfect 4th

e. Major 3rd (especially descending) for love

Musical Flow

a. Smooth Flow

b. Slow Fade

c. Home note of the key of the song

d. Dynamics that Slowly and Smoothly Get More Calming

e. Slow Rhythms

f. Music Tuned to the Breath

g. Musical 5th Melodic Intervals

h. Musical 3rd Melodic Intervals (for love)

i. Sweet Melodies

Energy and Intention

a. Stable and Consistent Peace

b. Soul Energy

c. Universal Love

d. Source

Having Them Play Instruments

Voice Work

1. Toning

2. Chant and Mantra

3. Voice Healing

Sound and Music Activating Benefits
Activating sounds and music send more blood flow to the brain. Making sounds and playing instruments wake up the brain and synchronize the left and right brains.

Playing Music they Love
It is well known that playing music they loved in the past can totally wake them up. However, there is a whole array of Sound Healing Music that is incredibly effective for a wide range of Mental and Emotional issues. We take each participant through a detailed process to find the music they love the most. We then create a playlist on their own MP3 player so they can listen to it and get lit up whenever they like. Take detailed notes. Best when done in early stages so they have already been introduced when they go into later stages.

Playing Music Tuned to Their Brain
Over 20 years the Sound Healing Research Foundation has developed a protocol for finding the tempo of the rhythm of the brain for a person when in peace and homeostasis. Then play music with Binaural Beats for Brainwave Entrainment tuned precisely to the person's brain in Delta (for sleep), Theta (creativity), Alpha (presence, alertness and learning), Beta (thinking and overcoming ADHD), and Gamma (blissing out). Tuning these rhythms has shown to be profoundly effective in overcoming anxiety and lighting up the brain.

Tuning music and brainwave entrainment to a person’s brain gets the person back to calmness for sleep peace for an active creative mind alertness and presence in the moment and being able to think clearly again.

Finding and Playing Instruments they Love
Follow a detailed process to find and document the Sound Healing Instruments that they love. Do one-on-one treatments and concerts with only the instruments they love. Sound Healing Instruments are the best at creating a peaceful state because they are all stable and consistent sounds, which is the definition of peace.

Playing music together in a group creates synchrony in the brain. Playing instruments lights up and balances the right and left brain. It also affects behavior in positive ways and instills a sense of joy.

Sound and Movement
Full body or just arms. Getting them to play a drum is excellent.

Interactive Jam Sessions
The definition of a Sound Healing instrument is an instrument that just about anyone can play. For those that are higher functioning, test to see what instruments they can play. Then have them play the instruments themselves. Playing instruments is effective in that it requires movement that activates and synchronizes the left and right sides of the brain as they use both hands to play. You should see how lit up and joyful they get.

Emotional Expression with Sound - Develop NonVerbal Communication
Walk everyone through a detailed process on how to express emotions nonverbally with the voice. In the early stages, do call and response to get them comfortable making sound, so in the later stages they can communicate nonverbally. Can also just communicate nonverbally in later stages without previous experience.

Begin with call and response to get everyone comfortable making all of the sounds of the full range of emotions (including love). Then have everyone make the sound of how they are feeling. This is extremely helpful for those that are at the stage where they can’t find the words to express themselves. They can now make the sound of how they are feeling and communicate again.

Learning to express emotions with the voice without words opens up a natural avenue of communication that is sincere and heartfelt. Working with the voice to release stuck emotions can provide a profound sense of peace and happiness throughout a person’s system.

Sound on the Body - Sound Lounge or Bass Vest
If not too fragile, the Sound Lounge is a lounge with transducers (like subwoofers) built into the lounge. The Bass Vest is a vest with 6 transducers that also vibrate the body powerfully. It vibrates the person with the bass of the song into a profoundly peaceful state while listening to the same music in speakers or headphones. It overcomes anxiety profoundly. It is also really good for overcoming a wide range of pain. But most importantly it lights people up like a Christmas Tree with love and joy that is instilled in David Gibson’s music.

Tuning Forks and Vibroacoustics

Play tuning forks on the body to get them in their body.
Play these CDs/downloads on the body using Vibroacoustic Devices:

Muscles
Nerves
Tendons
Ligament
Bones
Brain
Endocrine Glands
Circulatory System
Respiratory System
Arthritis
Asthma
Depression

Playing Music and Rhythms Tuned to 40 Hertz
Detailed clinical research has shown that 40 Hertz flashing infrared light is quite effective at reversing symptoms of Dementia (see the research paper and video below). David’s Brain CD has also helped.

Types of People

Information that can seriously affect the type of treatment provide (e.g.: Level of Severity; Adults vs. Children; Strong vs. Fragile)

High functioning

Low functioning (advanced dementia)

With Anxiety - Checkout www.MedicalSoundAssociation.com/sound-for-anxiety

With Depression - Checkout www.MedicalSoundAssociation.com/sound-for-depression

With Pain - Checkout www.MedicalSoundAssociation.com/sound-for-pain

Safety Guidelines

What practitioners should be aware of. What are the contraindications? This is critical not only for safety, but in order to help bring these treatment modalities into the mainstream (hospitals and homes).

Always watch extremely closely for any negative reactions -- even subtle reactions. A sound, piece of music or treatment might work one day and not on another day.

When putting sounds on the body, do a short test first to see if they like it. For the Sound Lounge/Table/Pillows test the volume in the headphones and the amount of vibration on the table.

Watch for self harm tendencies

Don’t push their memory

1. Don't tell them they are wrong about something

2. Don't argue with them

3. Don't remind them of a loved one that died

4. Don't ask them if they remember something

5. Don't bring up topics that will upset them

They may be particularly adverse to questions that seem like interrogation. Although we are trying to help we must meet the client where they are, this might be in a very delicate and sensitive place.

Speak softly in a warm, slow, calm tone. No matter their response, meet them with loving kindness.

Intake Questions

General questions about the person and detailed questions about their issue and their relationship with it. These questions are critical for determining which path to take in the treatment plan.

Depending on Stage of the Dementia the questions might need to be asked of the caretaker.

Music and Sound

What type of music do you like?
Do you like to sing?
Are you a musician? Do you play any instruments?

Lifestyle

What activities do you enjoy the most?
What really makes you happy and feeds your Soul?
How much time do you spend in different activities throughout the day? Phone, TV, Outside time, Listening to Music.
How much time do you spend on the computer?
How much unstructured time?
Do you have a spiritual practice?
What is your job?
Primary relationships
Going to school
Sleep, quality and consistency. Are you going to bed at the same time each night?
Overall vitality /energy levels
Did you feel safe in your home?
Are you financially secure?
How is this condition affecting your life? At work, relationships, socially, spiritually etc…

History

What was your childhood like?
Was there a lot of chaos growing up?
Did you feel safe growing up?
Have you experienced any traumatic events?
Does anyone in the family have dementia

Current Stressors in Your Life

What things most stress you out?
Do you feel able to step outside those stressors and observe yourself from a peaceful location?

Triggers

Can you remember a time when you were relaxed without this issue? What was the environment in that situation?
Do you notice any connection to electromagnetics?

Personal Remedies

When you visualize a safe place where does your mind go first?
Do you have any current self care practices ?
Do you have a creative outlet?

Current Medical Therapeutic

Have you stopped taking any medications recently that corresponded with the issue?
Has your issue ever posed a threat to your life? If yes, specify.

Somatic Questions

Physical health
Have you lost weight recently?
Are there any areas of your body that are in pain or need?

Higher Perspective

What do you think is going on behind this?
If the issue could talk, what would it say?
What shape, color, texture, sound is it?
Have you considered what this is teaching you? What are you learning?
What is it trying to protect you from?
Do you consider yourself empathic?
If you had all the free time in the world what would you do? What would your magic life be like?
When you visualize a safe place where does your mind go to first?

Chakra Questions

Root Chakra – How grounded are you? How often are you in your body versus in your head?
Sacral Chakra – How easily do you let go of emotions?
Solar Plexus Chakra – Are you above others where you are frustrated, critical or angry, or below people where you feel insecure or not good enough? Or do you feel in your power equal to others?
Heart Chakra – How open is your heart? How much love do you have in your life these days?
Throat Chakra – How well are you able to express yourself?
Do you have any trouble or fear around making sound or singing?
Third Eye – How good is your intuition? How clear is your vision and clarity of mind?
Crown Chakra – How often do you connect to Spirit or Source energy?
Do you have a spiritual practice?
Do you know how to open your crown chakra?

Practitioner Preparation and Guidelines

Clearing in Advance

Do your homework on yourself.
Do your own centering first before the session.
Clear your physical space as necessary - physically and energetically
Call in guides
Set out all Sound Healing Instrument sets (Crystal Bowls, Tibetan Bowls, Tuning Forks, Drums, etc.)

General

Make real contact - eye contact, calm friendly tone, allow time to process the conversation.
Positive approach works wonders - emphasizing the positive provides comfort and a feeling of security.
Give the person as much freedom as possible.
Avoid confronting questions like “Do you remember who I am?”
Build confidence in these techniques by sharing previous successes, research, acceptance of Sound Healing in Integrative Therapy departments in Hospitals.
Have intake questions ready for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Listen and be present.
Be ready to follow higher guidance.
See them as pure spirit, allowing space for them to be honored as divine presence.
Meet them where they are at.
Understand how to establish trust in every opportunity that presents. Listen, empower, validate, non- judgment, no labels, authenticity is key, etc.
Watch extremely closely for any negative reactions during the session.
Be honest with the patient in advance regarding your qualifications and session goals.
Expand trust by demonstrating willingness to become vulnerable.
Reflection - Use their exact words back to them so they know you have understood them
Gauge how closed they are. Know how deep you can go?
Reframe: See condition as a doorway instead of obstacle.
Hold deep acceptance: “It’s OK to be that way” “It’s Ok to feel what you are feeling”.
If they start crying don’t touch or talk to them. Let them know “It’s OK, let it out.”
Disclaimer for any recommendations - especially herbal stuff and anything ingested.
Explain to the client what they may experience during the session.
Ask permission to work on the body with tuning forks and bowls and possibly hands.
Keep track of which techniques the client likes the most and use the best in future sessions or homework assignments.

Treatments with Sound

Detailed techniques using a wide range of sound and music, categorized based on the Conceptual Frameworks above.

Order of treatment

Opening / Invocation – Do sound to get them as peaceful as possible initially
Do Intake questions
Do a sound session based on the information and energy from the intake questions
Discuss how effective it was for releasing the issues
Visualize the issue completely gone and do sound to resonate it
Make the sound of the new life, completely healed and then do celebration

Opening the Session

Set sacred space if you like
Call in helpers, guides and higher beings if appropriate
Do 3 OM’s or 3 breaths with the client to start

Creating Peace with Sound, Voice, Instruments, Music and Vibration

Peace and harmony are the basis of health. When we experience a state of peace, body and mind are relaxed and the natural healing response kicks in.

(This section is good for all issues except where people are extremely fragile – CLICK HERE to see more detail)

Use more activated sounds for those that are high functioning. With advanced dementia where they are low functioning only use calming sounds.

Listening to Sounds

Find and Play Instruments they love.
Look for frequency ranges, notes and timbres (instrument sounds and vowel sounds that they like). Also track which are annoying or trigger them. Especially notice whether activating sounds like a gong, Tibetan bowl or bells, for example, are not effective.
Create a checklist with all of your instruments.
Play each instrument for a minute or two and have them give you a thumbs up or thumbs down.
Do one-on-one treatments and concerts with only the instruments they love. Sound Healing Instruments are the best at creating a peaceful state because they are all stable and consistent sounds, which is the definition of peace.
Possible instruments:

Crystal Bowls (Frosted and Alchemy)
Tibetan Bowls
Drums
Freenote Xylophone
Sansula Kalimba
Crystal Harp
Body Percussion
Wood Tongue Drum
Clapping

Nature and Animal Sounds

Listening to Music
It is well known that playing music they loved in the past can totally wake them up. Talk to the person or their family members about the songs they love. Setup a playlist or MP3 player with the songs they like.

There is a whole array of Sound Healing Music that is incredibly effective for a wide range of Mental and Emotional issues. Play a few minutes of each and ask for a thumbs up or down. Create a playlist on their own MP3 player so they can listen to it and get lit up whenever they like. Take detailed notes. Best when done in early stages so they have already been introduced when they go into later stages.

Once you know what music creates peace and stability, use those for all types of situations. Look for music that works for different times and different purposes such as waking, eating, when most awake and aware, when triggered, and sleep time.

You can also categorize the music based on these parameters:

Sound Healing Music
Slow vs. Fast Tempo
Calm vs. Activated
Lyrics vs. No Lyrics
Time period appropriate

40 Hertz
Detailed clinical research has shown that 40 Hertz flashing infrared light is quite effective at reversing symptoms of Dementia. See the research paper and video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh8z7S0KrW0

Free Music Download - This song is tuned to a concert pitch 40 Hertz which has been shown in clinical trials to be helpful for Dementia. The rhythms in the song are also mathematically based on 40 Hertz also. The low drone is 40 Hertz and is even more effective when using VibroAcoustics devices like the Sound Lounge, Sound Table, Sound Pillow/Dolphin, or Bass Vest.

The song also has Binaural Beats based on 40 Hertz in Alpha.
It will entrain the brain into Alpha, which is the best brainwave state for alertness, awake, present and good for learning — the best for Dementia.

Both 10 and 20 minute versions:

WAV version for the Computer (better quality but bigger file) - CLICK HERE

MP3 Version for the Phone - CLICK HERE

CLICK HERE for download instructions.

Play Schumann Resonance sounds and music.

Play sounds of nature, white noise like ocean waves. Calming and/or activating.

Listen to the following CDs by David Gibson:

Brain

Having Them Play Instruments

The definition of a Sound Healing instrument is an instrument that just about anyone can play. For those that are higher functioning, test to see what instruments they can play. Create a tracklist to track. Then have them play the instruments themselves. Playing instruments is effective in that it requires movement that activates and synchronizes the left and right sides of the brain as they use both hands to play. You should see how lit up and joyful they get.

Any way you can get them involved and moving is the best.

Voice Work

All voice work is good for creating coherence.

Toning
Chant and Mantra
Voice Healing on them. You can also teach them how to voice healing on themselves.

Sing Songs

All different types of humming exercises – different pitches

Humming their name. Start with your own name.

When doing humming, move into sound sweeps for activation (watch for triggering sounds or frequencies).

Sounds on the Body

Sounds on the body are the best: Vibroacoustics, tuning forks, Tibetan bowls, drums, etc.
Put them on VibroAcoustics devices: Sound Tables / Sound Lounges / Sound Vests / Sound Pillows / Sound Dolphins.
If not too fragile, use the Sound Lounge. The Bass Vest is a vest with 6 transducers that also vibrate the body powerfully. It vibrates the person with the bass of the song into a profoundly peaceful state while listening to the same music in speakers or headphones. It overcomes anxiety profoundly. It is also really good for overcoming a wide range of pain. But most importantly it lights people up like a Christmas Tree with love and joy that is instilled in David Gibson’s music.
Play CDs/downloads for muscles, nerves, tendons, ligament, bones, brain, endocrine glands, circulatory system, respiratory system, arthritis, asthma and depression.
Play a hand drum really close to the body.
Play Tibetan Bowls on the body – especially big ones (10-12”).
Tuning forks around the aura and also on the bottom of the feet.
Play Schumann tuning forks on both sides of each vertebrae. Let the forks fade out on both sides of each vertebrae.
Place tuning forks on specific acupuncture / acupressure points.
Use 111 and 112.45 to activate the hypothalamus, pituitary pineal glands.

Movement and Sound

Full body or just arms. Getting them to play a drum is excellent.
Mellow exercise with sounds.
Get them to move little. Get up and Dance to their favorite music - discover new musical preferences.
Play percussion or long tones on a synthesizer combined with their movement of stress releasing body movements from Chi Gong and other energy exercises.
Playing Music Tuned to Their Brain
Do the brainwave assessment to find their note and rhythm here: www.soundhealingcenter.com/therapy/brainwave
Play sounds in time with their rhythm. You can normally find it just by watching their rhythm.
Gamma brainwaves can help:

Recent NIA-supported research offers evidence in mice that stimulation of gamma brain waves reduces Alzheimer’s-related proteins and slows neurodegeneration associated with the disease.

Over 20 years the Sound Healing Research Foundation has developed a protocol for finding the tempo of the rhythm of the brain for a person when in peace and homeostasis. Play music with Binaural Beats for Brainwave Entrainment tuned precisely to the person's brain in Delta (for sleep), Theta (creativity), Alpha (presence, alertness and learning), Beta (thinking and overcoming ADHD), and Gamma (blissing out). Tuning these rhythms has shown to be profoundly effective in overcoming anxiety and lighting up the brain.

Do an assessment to find their metabolism and have them listen to Binaural Beats tuned to them. Play it on a sound bed, if possible.
Use binaural beats to meet them where they’re at and slowly encourage states of increased energy.

Use ultrasound on microtubules on the brain for Oneness (Jeffery Martin).

Self Discovery and Transformation

For higher functioning people – after getting them to a state of peace/activation, discuss the issues and triggers along with ideas for dealing with them with sound. You can wait and do the intake questions at this point.

Get in Body

Bring them into an awareness of their body
Walk them through a meditation to feel each part of the body. Assign a sound or vowel to each part of the body.
Additional recorded guided meditation for calming the nervous system. Moving them in a visual imagination through their body systems, chakras, organs, ligaments and myafacia.
Scan through where there is an issue in the body - assign a color, shape and texture.
Use a sound sweep to scan through the body and see where there is any stuckness. You can also do a silent sweep to find where there is an issue in the body. Ask them to find the exact opposite of the sound and make that sound. Next, guide them in reversing the opposite of all descriptive forms to match tone, changing spin of shape, morphing shape and changing color. Encourage the decreasing tone and intensity until the visuals disappear into one another.
Tapping legs
Tapping rhythms on the body
Body Percussion
Tuning Forks on the Body

Tuning forks on their feet. Use grounding frequencies (Schumann) or large forks with low frequencies.
Try 111 and 112.45 tuning forks

Bass Vest and Bass Belt - especially for pain
Sound table, Sound Lounge, Sound Pillow or Dolphin - www.SoundLoungeCenter.com
Vibrating foot plate

Emotional Expression

Develop NonVerbal Communication skills when in early stages. Use them in later stages.
You can also mimic their emotions and energy with a sound when in later stages.
Create a safe place for them to express themself.
Walk everyone through a detailed process on how to express emotions nonverbally with the voice. In the early stages, do call and response to get them comfortable making sound, so in the later stages they can communicate nonverbally. Can also just communicate nonverbally in later stages without previous experience.
Begin with call and response to get everyone comfortable making all of the sounds of the full range of emotions (including love). Include animal sounds, timbres, frequencies and frequency sweeps. When comfortable, have everyone make the sound of how they are feeling. This is extremely helpful for those that are at the stage where they can’t find the words to express themselves. They can now make the sound of how they are feeling and communicate again.
Before doing emotional expression with sound you might need to help them get comfortable making sound:

Do gibberish
Do call and response

Expressing Feelings

Make the sound of how you feel
Make the sound of your day
Make the sound of who you are

Tone with them.
Make the sound of what it would feel like without dementia.
Bringing up and expressing anger can be helpful. Doing sound with drums and gongs can be especially empowering and can be really good for expressing anger.
If not too fragile, have them do a really powerful, “no.” Imagine you have a tiger attacking you and you have the power with your voice to stop it in its tracks. You’re not going to hurt the kitty, you are just setting boundaries. Then do a really loud “no” to get back into your power. Demonstrate for them first. This tiger represents your dementia.
Encourage the client to make the sound of how they feel, expressing different emotions with different sounds, voice and or instrumental. Beginning with helping someone find their voice to sound their thoughts, feelings and emotions as a space to let them leave the body and mind with the sound. Using voice opens a huge landscape for someone to release the emotions responsible for the flood of stress hormones the body creates while in fight or flight.
Make fun, silly sounds. Use laughter.
Sing a guided meditation to the client. Have them sing their guided meditation to themself.
Do any of the 10 voice techniques for releasing stuck emotions.
Express painful sounds, moans, screams, wails and crying.
Toning with regards to where the emotions have come from and where they are now. Tone with them so they feel supported.
Go through how different emotions might be expressed with sound.
Express a full range of emotions to develop emotional awareness and intelligence.
Work up to having them make the sound of how they feel.
Making sounds is excellent for healthy expression.
Have them do the sound of love.
Sing their thoughts – schedule, etc.
Nature and Animal Sounds

Breathwork with Sound

Breathe deeply and make a sound on the out breath.
Breathwork with instruments. Play the musical 5th on the in breath and the home note on the out breath and have them breath along with it.

Higher Perspective and Intuition

Accept your own emotions. Make the sound of them.
“It’s OK to be that way” “It’s Ok to feel what you are feeling”
Balance out the stressors with all of the positive things in your life.
Become the observer -- the witness. The witness is always perfectly still.
What is this teaching me? What is the lesson here? See the issue as a doorway.
No judging or resisting sadness. It’s not all about being happy.
You're a Perfect Spirit in every way. Make the sound of that.
Help them find a purpose or mission in life.

Create a vision board.
Chant their dreams or goals with rhythm.

Make a gratitude list and do the sound of it. How can you be grateful for the dementia?

Higher Energies

Go through all of the things we can be grateful for. Make the sound of gratitude, compassion, forgiveness and love.
Have Source make the sound through your voice to create peace.
Affirmations the client can use anywhere for immediate effect. Create your own custom ones. For example: I am here in my body and all is well. I am connected to Source energy at all times. There is time, space and resources for everything I want to do. I belong. I have what it takes. Make them into a mantra - outloud or internal.

You are a stable point of awareness
You are a stable peaceful Soul
You are love

Bring them into an expanded state of consciousness.
Deliver guided meditation leading them into light and bliss.
Connect to higher beings and Source.

Using Intention

See them healing and transforming as you do sound.
See them as pure spirit, allowing space for them to be honored as divine presence.
Know that you have the power to overcome it.
Create anchor words or sounds to remind them of the expanded place.

Different Types of Clients / Issues

This section provides important information to be aware of and suggestions to customize treatments based on special considerations such as different variations of the issue, the degree of severity of an issue, adults vs. children, strong vs. fragile state, etc.

Later Stages - Low functioning (advanced dementia)

Whatever they liked in earlier years (any of the above)
Use the music and instruments they liked in earlier years (any of the above).
Bring in the instrument that they used to play.
Develop a Music Soundtrack with times of Silence.
Sing Songs to them.
Leave percussion or instrument they like in their vicinity.
Hum along and try and get them to also… with any music or frequencies you play.

Get them in their body with Sound and Vibration

Tapping rhythms on the body
Sound on the body (if they like it) – tuning forks, sound lounge, Bass Belt
Movement

Use Nonverbal Communication

Expressing emotions with sound.
Making sounds is excellent for healthy expression.
Use nonverbal sounds to develop a connection.
Express a full range of emotions to develop emotional awareness and intelligence.
Teach them their name by singing it to them.

Brainwave Entrainment tuned to them

Find their natural rhythm/note and play binaural beats in Delta, Theta, Alpha and Beta to get them back to their own natural rhythm of their metabolism – brain and heart rates.

Peace

Consistent tones and rhythms create coherence, peace and stability.

Play:

Stable consistent tones
Slow fade on the home note and sit in the stillness
Stable consistent rhythms

Consistent Rhythm – Play them for the person
Love, love, love

With Anxiety

Checkout the treatment plans in the Medical Sound Association

www.MedicalSoundAssociation.com/sound-for-anxiety

With Depression

Checkout the treatment plans in the Medical Sound Association

www.MedicalSoundAssociation.com/sound-for-depression

With Pain

Checkout the treatment plans in the Medical Sound Association

www.MedicalSoundAssociation.com/sound-for-pain

Homework with Sound and Music

Ideas that the person can do on their own.

Use alarm clock that is chimes or singing bowl tones (very helpful for higher functioning)
Multi-sensory at once – visuals, smells, sounds synchronized

How does it feel in your body?

Listening and Playing Sound and Music

Find sound healing instruments you like, purchase them and play them daily.
Acquire and play sound healing instruments daily – especially activating ones.
Create an Itunes, Pandora or Spotify list of songs that are uplifting for you and listen daily.
Pay more attention to detail with sound. Notice the frequency and rhythms of things around you.
Listen to music throughout the day.
Reduce excess noise from TV, children, chaos. Try to find moments of complete stillness and silence.
Go to a peaceful place with sound at least 3 times per day. Preferably 5 or more.
Listen to brainwave CDs tuned to you: Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta, Gamma
Do chakra treatment with Sound
Listen to the following CDs by David Gibson:

Brain
Water of Life
Unconditional Love
Awakening
Enlightenment
Calm Sleep
Chakra Journey
Pachelbel Canon
Anti-Depressant
Low Mood

Sing karaoke
Listen to nature sound CDs or Youtube (crickets, waves, brook, etc.)
Go to a Sound Bath
Take a class in Sound Healing

Sound on the Body

Get a Vibroacoustic sound table, sound lounge or sound vest and go on daily.
Learn acupressure points and use them…. Especially with tuning forks.

Voice Work

Do toning daily. Even small 15 min three times a week.
Do Chant and Mantras each day.

Breath Work

Do daily breathing exercises
Put on 3 songs and breath to it
Breathe to the rhythm of walking in nature
Do Prana three part breath

Nature

Walk in nature and listen to the natural sounds.

Mental/Emotional

Emotional Vocal Expression

Use your own voice to express feelings and help resonate to a new level.
Make the sound of how you are feeling and slowly transform it to love and light.
Use Voice and tone your way through periods of intense feelings.
Kindly acknowledge your condition, allowing it to be honored, heard and seen. Make the sound of it and move it towards a more desirable sound.
Make the sound of compassion for yourself.
Do ceremony / ritual practice to release with sound.
Send love to your heart with sound (out loud or silently).
Tone, Chant or Mantra 8 minutes 3 times per day -- or more.

Follow Up

Let them know they can call or email anytime.
Have them let you know how they are doing by phone or email.
Check in on them weekly or more often.
Schedule a followup session.
Email a list of followup questions.
Go through all of the things they are doing and how they are working.

Treatments Other Than Sound

Techniques that you might add to the treatment. These techniques might also inspire new ways that you might also incorporate sound with them.

Top Ideas

Microglia and Astrocytes – Trigger them with sound to eat the plaque but they can go too far and eat good things.
Human stem cells can regrow the brain.
Curing Alzheimer's with Science and Song, Rudy Tanzi @ Chris Mann. TED Talk
MusicAndMemory.org
PlayListForLife.org.uk

Help Them Get Organized

Set a detailed list of things to do.
Set 10 easily achievable lifestyle change goals.
Help them make a schedule daily, weekly, monthly.
Suggest time and frequency.
Give them a calendar.

Body Work

Stay active
Exercise is so important. Yoga or meditation also. Boosts feel-good chemicals called endorphins. Regular exercise seems to encourage the brain to rewire itself in positive ways. How much exercise do you need? Work with what they do first and build from here.
Massaging the calf and feet
Do daily breathing exercises
Work with Acupuncture / acupressure points.
Yoga Nidra - Bringing body and mind into centralized focus
Do hikes
Do barefoot walking on ground
Get hugs
Stretch
Get a massage or body work.
Do yoga
Craniosacral therapy
Acupuncture

Mental / Emotional Work

Photo books, Photo albums/Family history items
Counting forward and backward while moving
Use your favorite techniques to go to peace and stillness multiple times per day (10 or more is best)
Honor yourself and accept all the emotions you feel
Make your own personal self care list. All the things that could help you when you are feeling unwell. Could include: Talk to a friend, have a bowl of warm soup, a hot bath, burn essential oils, read a good book, etc.
Do what you love at least once a day
Do mindfulness exercises
Journaling - Keep an account of what helps
Write down something they are looking forward to. Write down things they are grateful for at the end of each day.
Watch a movie you love
Do free association writing
Do Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) tapping while holding acceptance of emotions.
Do laughing yoga
Do guided visualizations
Do any type of meditation. Consider a meditation retreat.
Do a vision board
Check out the book and do the exercises in “The Emotion Code.”
EMDR - Free app to download! https://www.hereglobalrelief.org
Consider seeing a naturopath, herbalist or acupuncturist

Creative Work

Be creative - drawing, painting, doodling, writing
Draw it
Find a creative project to do
Make a family tree posterboard
Make a collage

Social

Stay connected with others socially.
Find Support Groups - Facebook, Meetup, etc.
Create your own support group.

Energy Work

Reiki
EMDR
Create custom affirmations such as:

I am here in my body and all is well.
I am connected to Source energy at all times.
There is time, space and resources for everything I want to do.
I belong.
I have what it takes.

Cranial Sacral
Light therapy

Nature

Spend more time with animals
Perhaps a therapy dog or cat

Color

Try visualizing different colors.

Crystals

Rose quartz crystal to carry or keep near bed, desk etc. Black tourmaline also to dispel negative energy.

Environment

A change of environment/ scenery and travel.

Nutrition / Supplements

Some say Alzheimer’s is Type 3 Diabetes
Gut health is important
Glucose is problematic
Plant based diet and anti-inflammatory
Use Essential oils
Ginkgo biloba
Aromatherapy
Coconut oil
Turmeric
Centella asiatica
Melatonin
Omega 3
Huperzine A
Coenzyme Q10
Phosphatidylserine
Asian ginseng
Bacopa
Caprylic acid
Vitamin E

Service

Be of service.
Do something to help others (maybe grocery shopping, painting, cleaning, etc).
Volunteer.
Send love and light to others.

Possible Future Research

Research to find a frequency that will melt the plaque that is associated with Alzheimer's.
More detailed brainwave stimulation.
Microtubule frequencies. Each neuron contains a microtubule. They transfer helpful information.

For more info and products go to www.SoundForDementia.com

Table of Contents

Sound and Music for Dementia

Medical Details

Definition

Types

Causes

Signs and Symptoms

Current Treatments

Conceptual Framework and Theoretical Basis for Approach

Create Peace with Sound, Voice, Instruments, Music and Vibration

Types of People

Safety Guidelines

Intake Questions

Top Questions

Music and Sound

Lifestyle

History

Current Stressors in Your Life

Triggers

Personal Remedies

Current Medical Therapeutic

Somatic Questions

Higher Perspective

Chakra Questions

Practitioner Preparation and Guidelines

Clearing in Advance

General

Treatments with Sound

Order of treatment

Opening the Session

Creating Peace with Sound, Voice, Instruments, Music and Vibration

Self Discovery and Transformation

Higher Perspective and Intuition

Different Types of Clients / Issues

Later Stages - Low functioning (advanced dementia)

With Anxiety

With Depression

With Pain

Homework with Sound and Music

Listening and Playing Sound and Music

Sound on the Body

Voice Work

Breath Work

Nature

Mental/Emotional

Emotional Vocal Expression

Follow Up

Treatments Other Than Sound

Top Ideas

Help Them Get Organized

Body Work

Mental / Emotional Work

Creative Work

Social

Energy Work

Nature

Color

Crystals

Environment

Nutrition / Supplements

Service

Possible Future Research