Language function and the psychosocial wellbeing of patients and their families can be promoted with singing-based rehabilitation, according to a new study.

Approximately 40% of stroke survivors experience aphasia, or difficulty understanding or producing spoken or written language. In half of these cases, the language impairment still persists one year post-stroke, according to researchers from the University of Helsinki, Finland. Aphasia has wide-ranging effects on the ability to function and quality of life of stroke survivors and easily leads to social isolation.

For the study, rehabilitation sessions were led by a trained music therapist and a trained choir conductor. The team found that singing-based group rehabilitation can support patients' communication and speech production and increase social activity, even when stroke is chronic. The burden experienced among family caregivers participating in the study also decreased notably.

Previous research established that the ability to sing can be retained even in severe aphasia. The current study used a wide variety of singing elements, such as choral singing, melodic intonation therapy and tablet-assisted singing training. In melodic intonation therapy, speech production is practiced gradually by utilizing melody and rhythm to progress from singing towards speech production.

Melodic intonation therapy has been used to some extent in aphasia rehabilitation, but the treatment has typically been implemented as individual therapy, requiring a great deal of resources. The group intervention provides opportunities for peer support while being simultaneously cost effective.

To read the full article, "Efficacy of a multicomponent singing intervention on communication and psychosocial functioning in chronic aphasia: a randomized controlled crossover trial," click here