Singing supports stroke recovery in patients with aphasia

Singing may be a potential tool to promote communicative and psychosocial outcomes among patients with post-stroke aphasia, researchers reported in Brain Communications.

“Aphasia is a highly debilitating condition that impairs communication abilities, causing social isolation and decreasing emotional well-being,” Sini-Tuuli Siponkoski, PhD, of the University of Helsinki in Finland, and colleagues wrote.

Siponkoski and colleagues sought to determine the efficacy of a multicomponent singing intervention on communication and speech production and emotional-social functioning among patients with aphasia, as well as caregiver well-being.

A total of 54 patients with brain injury and chronic aphasia were recruited with their family caregivers for the study.

The authors randomized participants into two groups. Patients received a 4-month singing intervention either during the first or second half of the study, in addition to standard care. The intervention was comprised of weekly group-based training, which included choir singing and melodic intonation, as well as tablet-assisted singing training at home.

Patients were assessed with tests and questionnaires on communication and speech production, mood, social functioning and quality of life at baseline, 5-month and 9-month stages. Family caregivers received questionnaires on burden.

Of the 54 patients, 50 were included in linear mixed model analyses. Compared with standard care, the singing intervention group improved everyday communication and responsive speech production from baseline to the 5-month stage. These changes were sustained longitudinally through the 9-month period.

In addition, the intervention enhanced patients’ social participation and reduced caregiver burden.

“Our study is the first where caregivers participated in rehabilitation and their psychological well-being was evaluated,” Siponkoski said in a press release from the University of Helsinki. “In addition to training in speech production, group-based rehabilitation provides an excellent opportunity for peer support both for the patients and their families.”

Reference:

Singing supports stroke rehabilitation. https://www.helsinki.fi/en/news/brain/singing-supports-stroke-rehabilitation. Published Dec. 29, 2022. Accessed Dec. 29, 2022.