Music for addressing speech issues.

Many neurological accidents result in speech deficits, such as aphasia, dysarthria or apraxia, due to injury or disruption to the primary speech areas in the brain.  Singing has been shown to be processed in the opposite side of the brain from speech.  In fact many patients demonstrate relatively preserved singing despite their speech deficits.  DBC3 Music Therapy uses techniques developed to take advantage of this preserved ability to sing to help in the rehabilitation of normal speech function.

Modified Melodic Intonation Therapy (MMIT) : This technique combines functional phrases with novel melodies to improve speech in those patients with expressive aphasia and/or apraxia of speech and has demonstrated some success with dysarthria. MMIT is best utilized with patients who have had damage to the left side of their brain but are fully intact on the right side.  This enables the brain to recruit right brain processes for singing that are believed to help compensate for the damaged left brained areas for speech.

MMIT with Stroke and Pick’s Disease.

Musical Speech Stimulation (MuSTIM): This technique utilizes songs very familiar to the patient to assist in production of individual or groups of words.  While only meaningful within the context of the song, the accurate production of these words helps reinforce the physical characteristics of the words and to help build confidence with the patient that they can produce accurate words.

MuSTIM with Stroke and Pick’s Disease.

Rhythmic Speech Cuing (RSC): RSC uses rhythm to metrically cue the words of a phrase. Whether it’s one beat per syllable or using the beat to emphasize the natural flow of the phrase, the therapist works to find a tempo that is comfortable for the patient to produce accurate words.  As the patient improves the therapist increases the speed, working towards getting as close to the patient’s normal rate of speech.  This technique is utilized most with dysarthria and has demonstrated success with apraxia of speech.

Vocal Intonation Therapy (VIT): Not to be confused with Melodic Intonation Therapy, these are vocal exercises geared towards enhancing all aspects of vocal production, including breath control, pitch, vocal rate and sound quality/strength.

VIT with Stroke.

Oral Motor, Respiratory and Speech Exercises (OMREX): Here the therapist utilizes a variety of tools (vocal exercises or wind instruments, i.e. flute, recorder or the mouth piece for a trumpet) geared towards the individual patient’s needs.  An example could be the use of a particular vocal exercise designed at helping a patient gain more control over their lips and/or tongue for improved articulation.