Music as medicine

Day 18

Music has always been part of my life. In college, I even sang in the choir. Long before that, my parents bought me a piano, and I took lessons from about age 10 until I was 16. Creativity and music gave me joy, expression, and connection in ways that reached beyond words.

After my stroke, though, things changed. With both aphasia and apraxia of speech, music became bittersweet. Aphasia made it hard to find the words, and )apraxia—the motor planning challenge—made it difficult to speak or sing the words at the pace a song required. Even when I could think of the words, my mouth didn’t always cooperate.

Still, music helped. Sometimes a familiar melody gave me access to words I couldn’t reach in normal conversation. Sometimes humming along lifted my mood on days when speaking felt impossible.

Why Music Helps the Brain

Research shows that music activates many parts of the brain—including areas that process rhythm, memory, and emotion. That means music can sometimes unlock pathways to speech and language when traditional methods feel stuck.

For people with aphasia, singing can sometimes bypass damaged language centers and help words flow more easily. That’s why some people join aphasia choirs or music therapy groups—and find success, joy, and connection.

For those of us with apraxia of speech, singing may not be simple. The pacing and motor planning make it tough. But that doesn’t mean music isn’t valuable. Even listening to music, humming, tapping along with rhythm, or using song lyrics for word retrieval can make a difference.

Ways to Use Music in Recovery

Here are a few gentle ways music can support recovery and well-being:

• 🎵 Listening Therapy: Put on favorite songs to lift your mood or calm your mind.

• 🎶 Singing Along: Try joining in for just one word or phrase in a song. Build slowly.

• 🥁 Rhythm & Tapping: Use clapping, drumming, or tapping to practice timing and flow.

• 🎤 Music Therapy: If available, work with a music therapist who specializes in aphasia.

• 👥 Group Singing: If singing is possible, aphasia choirs and music groups offer community and joy.

  
  

My Reflection

Even though singing is harder for me now, music is still a friend. It reminds me of who I’ve always been. It connects me to my past—sitting at the piano my parents gave me, or singing in the choir—and it still gives me hope for the future.

I may not sing like I used to, but I still find comfort, healing, and moments of joy through music. Creativity—in both music and expression—remains one of the most healing parts of my journey.

Resources: Music Therapy & Aphasia Choirs

If you’d like to explore music as part of your recovery, here are some places to start:

• 🎵 American Music Therapy Association (AMTA): https://www.musictherapy.org

• 👥 Aphasia Choirs & Singing Groups: Try searching for “Aphasia Choir” or “Singing for Aphasia” in your local area. Many hospitals and universities sponsor them.

• 🌍 Sing Aphasia: https://singaphasia.com (programs, choirs, and community resources)

• 🎶 Spotify or YouTube: Build playlists of meaningful songs to listen to or sing along with at your own pace.

  
  

✅ Reflection for You:What role has music played in your life—before and after stroke? Could you bring it back in a new way, whether through listening, humming, tapping rhythms, or joining others in song?

#blogboost #aphasia #apraxia #dysarthria #communication #musictherapy

Note: Because aphasia makes speaking, reading, and writing more challenging, I use tools like ChatGPT to help me organize my thoughts, check for consistency, and make sure my writing is clear and cohesive. Technology has become an important part of how I share my story and continue my recovery.