After experiencing a stroke in 2022, Serge Belloncik developed aphasia, a condition affecting his ability to communicate. This change significantly impacted the 81-year-old scientist and former professor, who was used to presenting at conferences and giving lectures. Although his communication skills have shown some improvement, he still encounters difficulties.
Belloncik is now participating in a research study to explore if singing in a choir can aid in the recovery of individuals with aphasia. Every week, he joins a small group of fellow aphasia sufferers at a community center in Montreal. During a recent session, after undergoing vocal assessments and wearing a heart-rate monitor for data collection, Belloncik and his choir mates sang together, led by a piano-playing vocal director.
The study, a randomized controlled trial, is spearheaded by Anna Zumbansen from the University of Ottawa’s school of rehabilitation sciences as part of the SingWell initiative. It involves 12 weekly choir sessions at various locations, including Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, and Tampa Bay, Fla. Édith Durand, an assistant professor of speech-language pathology at the Université de Québec à Trois-Rivières and part of the research team, emphasized the potential benefits of choir participation for individuals with aphasia, not only in terms of language improvement but also in enhancing social interactions.
Studies have suggested that singing can enhance the expressive abilities of people with aphasia. Dr. Alexander Thiel, a stroke neurologist at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal, mentioned the concept of melodic intonation therapy, which leverages non-language functions like rhythm and pitch to aid communication. Thiel highlighted the social aspect of speech and the importance of exploring alternative therapies beyond the acute phase of aphasia treatment.
While conventional rehabilitation therapy focuses on reactivating speech control areas in the brain, music-based interventions offer a complementary approach for individuals with aphasia. However, research like Durand’s is essential to ascertain the long-term effectiveness of group therapies in managing aphasia. Frank Russo, a psychology professor at Toronto Metropolitan University and the founder of SingWell, emphasized the need for scientific rigor in evaluating the clinical outcomes of such interventions to potentially expand treatment options for speech language pathologists.
Belloncik remains optimistic about the study’s contribution to the understanding and treatment of aphasia, hopeful that the findings may benefit others facing similar challenges.