A CHOIR IS BORN
“When…I…sing, I feel…free.” This quote came from a man who suffered a left hemisphere stroke many years ago, the kind of stroke that makes it very challenging to speak. In and outside of my job as a speech-language pathologist, I do a lot of talking each day and simply can’t imagine not being able to use my words to offer direction, answer questions, request help, and ask for the things I want or need. I’m probably not alone in taking my ability to communicate for granted.
I also love to sing. I find ease and comfort in the melodies and rhythms that music offers. Play me a good, upbeat pop tune and I can’t sit still! I sang in choirs throughout high school and college and experienced a sense of purpose and unity in working toward a common goal—the concert!
I know there are many individuals in our community living with aphasia. Aphasia (pronounced uh fay’ zhuh) is defined as an impairment of the power to use or comprehend words, usually acquired as a result of stroke or traumatic brain injury (www.aphasia.org). From my experience and training, I know that individuals with aphasia often find it easier to sing than speak. So I had this idea: why not join individuals with aphasia together in song, to empower them by focusing on what they can do versus what they can’t? Hence, the Aphasia Choir was born.
The brain is fascinating and mysterious to me. Why is it that a person can sing a song but can’t put words together to ask a question or make a statement? Research has shown that it has to do with the specialized functions of the left and right hemispheres of the brain. In most people, the left side of the brain is primarily in charge of language: naming things (e.g., calling that red, round piece of fruit an “apple”) and using syntax and grammar for verbal communication (e.g., saying “I love to eat apples.”). The right side of the brain is where music lives: it mediates our ability to perceive melodies and express ourselves in song. If a stroke or accident causes damage to the left side of a person’s brain, language problems often result. But the right side of the brain is unharmed and ready for action.
Since mid-March, choir members have been rehearsing weekly. Simplified arrangements of popular tunes enable fluent expression, even in the case of a woman who has been nonverbal for several years. Articulation isn’t necessarily perfect, but all mouths are moving and joy is palpable. And I feel fortunate to be in a unique position to lead the group thanks to my profession, singing ability, and choral background.
Excerpted from Karen’s UVMMC website blog, posted June 3, 2014