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Music Therapy and Aphasia
- Part 1
What exactly is Aphasia?
Aphasia is a language disorder that affects an individual’s ability to communicate. Aphasia most commonly develops suddenly from a stroke or brain injury. It may also develop slowly due to a brain tumour or disease. Aphasia affects a person’s ability to output speech as the brain has difficulty with formulating and interpreting words and sentences. Difficulties with reading and writing may also be present.
Imagine not being able to say what's on your mind or not understanding what others are saying to you. These struggles with communication can lead to feelings of isolation, sadness and hopelessness. Music therapy can be an important form of therapy for people living with aphasia, to both support improvements in communication and enhance quality of life.
Benefit from music therapy today.
Each session is tailored to a person’s individual needs and
goals.
Why Music Therapy for Aphasia?
In music therapy we understand that the brain's connection with music remains strong, even when language is a struggle. Although people with
aphasia may not be able to speak, if they have aphasia in the broca region of the brain, they will often be able to sing. This is because
speech and singing are formulated in different parts of the brain, and the singing region of the brain has remained undamaged. This
phenomenon, that some people with aphasia can produce words in song fluently, has led to the development of a technique frequently used in
music therapy called melodic intonation therapy (MIT).
MIT is a scientifically validated method used in music therapy sessions that aims to boost expressive language skills in individuals with aphasia. By engaging the intact right hemisphere of the brain through the melodic and rhythmic elements of singing, MIT aims to reduce reliance on the left hemisphere of the brain for speech.
During music therapy singing and rhythmic exercises are utilised with the goal of enhancing speech and language skills. Repeating song
lyrics and melodies can help the brain with aphasia reconnect with language.
Watch this small example of how MIT would be used during a music therapy session with a person living with aphasia.
To use MIT successfully during Music therapy, the Aphasic Patient must:
Hemisphere Damage
Have damage to only the left hemisphere of the brain
Auditory Comprehension
Demonstrate moderately good auditory comprehension
Limited, Effortful Speech Output
Have non-fluent speech with effortful speech production of only a few words or only nonsense syllables
Word Repetition
Have poor ability to repeat even single words
Singing Ability
Show some ability to produce words while singing familiar songs
Motivation
Be alert and motivated, with a good attention span
The role of Music Therapy
Whilst Music therapy isn't a cure for aphasia, it supports people living with aphasia to regain access to words and language through song,
to rebuild their lives and reconnect with people and the world around them. In part 2 of this blog we will explore Anneliis’s work with the
stroke a chord choir, a music therapist led choir for people living with aphasia.
Discover the benefits of music therapy today.
Providing home and clinic based music therapy services across the southern suburbs of Adelaide.