Singing training improves communication and spoken language in patients with chronic aphasia

A new study published in Brain Communications suggest that the emotional wellness of patients and caregivers can be improved through group-based, multicomponent singing training, which can also improve communication and spoken language output in people with chronic aphasia.

In severe aphasia, the ability to form words through singing can be maintained, although the advantages of group-based singing therapy for aphasia remain mainly unknown. In order to ascertain the effectiveness of a multicomponent singing intervention on communication and speech production, emotional-social functioning, and carer well-being in aphasia, Sini-Tuuli Siponkoski and team conducted this study.

A total of 54 patients with chronic aphasia and acquired brain damage as well as their family carers (n = 43) were enrolled. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups receiving either a 4-month singing intervention during the first half of the study or a 4-month singing intervention during the second half of the study using a crossover randomised controlled trial design. The solution included both weekly group training and at-home tablet-assisted singing instruction. Patients' communication and speech production, mood, social functioning, and quality of life were evaluated using tests and questionnaires at the baseline, 5-month, and 9-month stages. Family carers' carer burden was evaluated using questionnaires. Analyses using a linear mixed model included all participants (n = 50) who took part in the baseline measurement.

The key findings of the study were:

1. From baseline to the 5-month stage, the singing intervention improved daily communication and responsive speech production compared to standard care.

2. These improvements were also longitudinally maintained (baseline to 9-month stage).

3. The strategy also improved patients' social engagement and lessened caregiver burden.

Reference:

Siponkoski, S.-T., Pitkäniemi, A., Laitinen, S., Särkämö, E.-R., Pentikäinen, E., Eloranta, H., Tuomiranta, L., Melkas, S., Schlaug, G., Sihvonen, A. J., & Särkämö, T. (2022). Efficacy of a multicomponent singing intervention on communication and psychosocial functioning in chronic aphasia: a randomized controlled crossover trial. In Brain Communications. Oxford University Press (OUP). https://doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcac337