Language function and the psychosocial wellbeing of patients and their families could be promoted with singing-based rehabilitation. Group intervention provides opportunities for peer support while being concurrently cost-effective.
Roughly 40% of stroke survivors experience aphasia, a problem to grasp or produce spoken or written language attributable to a cerebrovascular accident. In half of those cases the language impairment still persists one yr post-stroke. Aphasia has wide-ranging effects on the flexibility to operate and quality of lifetime of stroke survivors and simply results in social isolation.
In keeping with a recent study conducted on the University of Helsinki, singing-based group rehabilitation can support communication and speech production of patients and increase social activity even on the chronic phase of stroke. The burden experienced among the many family caregivers participating within the study also decreased notably.
Our study is the primary where caregivers participated in rehabilitation and their psychological wellbeing was evaluated.”
Sini-Tuuli Siponkoski, Postdoctoral Researcher
Versatile use of music supports recovery
Previous research has established that the flexibility to sing could be retained even in severe aphasia. Nonetheless, using singing, especially choral singing, in aphasia rehabilitation has not been widely studied.
“Our study utilized a wide selection of singing elements, akin to choral singing, melodic intonation therapy and tablet-assisted singing training,” clarifies Doctoral Researcher Anni Pitkäniemi.
In melodic intonation therapy, speech production is practiced steadily by utilizing melody and rhythm to progress from singing towards speech production.
Within the study, rehabilitation sessions were led by a trained music therapist and a trained choir conductor.
Latest and effective types of rehabilitation needed
Along with speech therapy, melodic intonation therapy has been used to some extent in aphasia rehabilitation. Therapy has typically been implemented as individual therapy, requiring an excellent deal of resources.
In keeping with the researchers, singing-based group rehabilitation ought to be utilized in healthcare as a part of aphasia rehabilitation.
“Along with training in speech production, group-based rehabilitation provides a wonderful opportunity for peer support each for the patients and their families,” says Sini-Tuuli Siponkoski.
Source:
Journal reference:
Siponkoski, S-T., et al. (2022) Efficacy of a multicomponent singing intervention on communication and psychosocial functioning in chronic aphasia: a randomized controlled crossover trial. Brain Communications. doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcac337.