A study by the University of Helsinki has found that singing enhances stroke patients’ communication and language production, makes them more social and reduces the burden on caregivers.
Published in Brain Communications on Dec. 27, 2022, the research included 54 stroke patients who were given weekly group-based singing training for four months.
“Our study utilised a wide variety of singing elements, such as choral singing, melodic intonation therapy, and tablet-assisted singing training,” doctoral researcher Anni Pitkäniemi said.
Led by trained music therapists and choir conductors, melodic intonation therapy aims to help patients gradually produce speech by using melody and rhythm to progress from singing towards speaking….