Singing Therapy Can Be Effective for a Patient With Severe Nonfluent Aphasia

Journal

International Journal of Rehabilitation Research

Year

2012

Abstract

Patients with severe aphasia are rarely treated using speech therapy. We used music therapy to continue to treat a 79-year-old patient with chronic severe aphasia. Interventions 1, 2, and 3 were to practice singing a song that the patient knew, to practice singing a song with a therapist, and to practice saying a greeting using a song with lyrics, respectively. In addition, practice of uttering names of body parts was initiated using touch and rhythm. After intervention 1, the patient could sing spontaneously and repeat lyrics. After intervention 2, she could sing with the therapist, and sing spontaneously and repeat lyrics. After intervention 3, she could memorize words with meaning, say the words in context, and use them. The patient could utter the names of two body parts after therapy with touch and rhythm. These suggest that rehabilitation therapy can still be used in patients with severe cognitive impairment.

Music and Health Institute Terms

Aphasia; Cognitive Abilities; Elderly; Music Therapy; Physiological Measures; Recreative Music Methods; Rehabilitation Exercises; Singing a Song; Stroke

Indexed Terms

Elderly; Aphasia, Broca; Cerebral Infarction; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Speech Therapy

Study Type

Case Study; Qualitative Methods

Document Type

Article

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