Following are human functions that music therapy is known to improve:

Acceptance and coping
Attending skills
Auditory abilities
Communication
Conflict resolution
Control reclamation
Creative personal expression
Decision-making
Diversion and meaningful use of time
Emotional release
Hand and eye coordination
Kinesthetic and tactile abilities
Language development
Maintenance and strengthening of family bonds
Memory recall
Mood and feelings
Motivation to change
Muscle control and coordination
Nausea management
Pain management
Problem solving
Relaxation
Sedation
Self-awareness
Self-esteem
Sensory systems
Sleep inducement
Social skills
Spiritual exploration
Stress reduction
Validation of personal life experiences
Visual abilities

In general, anyone from any age group is likely to respond to music therapy favorably, including children, adolescents, adults, and older adults.

Music therapy research validates significant success with the specific populations listed below:

Acute and chronic pain patients
Alzheimer's patients
Brain injury patients
Developmentally disabled patients
     Autism
     Cornelia deLange Syndrome
     Down Syndrome
     Rett Syndrome
Medical patients
Parkinson's patients
Physically disabled patients
Substance abuse patients