“I know what to say but only confused and incomprehensible sounds come out of my mouth.” A terrible feeling. After a stroke, aphasia, which can also lead to this type of problem, appears in about three out of ten patients. But it can be countered, not only with tailor-made rehabilitation programs, but also through music. Maybe just singing in chorus. Without fear of making mistakes or not being understood. Because when we sing the words flow better.
The Chorus of the Aphasians, present in six cities
It is a truly contagious experience, in a positive sense, that of “Chorus of the Aphasics“, supported by ALICe. Italia Odv (Association for the fight against stroke). Today the choirs are active in Cuneo, Trieste, Genoa, Ravenna, Florence, L’Aquila. In one of these also Ruggero sings, who since 2017 has been part of the Chorus of the Afasici of Genoa.
“Music has always been a very important element for him and, today, it represents a great means of communication: sometimes he sings a song related to the subject to explain himself – says his wife. Participating in the choir makes us feel part of a group, therefore, less alone, we each face our own difficulties, we do not close in on ourselves “.
Having the words but not being able to say them
Ruggero has all the words in his brain, except that the injury does not let him come out correctly. “Over time he has improved a lot, managing to compose words, more written than spoken, so much so that he would like to write a book: however, the construction of sentences remains difficult – he continues. At a neuropsychological and speech therapy level it has been and still continues to be a great job, thanks also to the relationship that has been created with our speech therapist and with the neuropsychologist. The most important thing for him is to be able to make himself understood, which he does quite well with various means of communication, expressions, examples, songs , the drawings. I don’t deny that many times I am his interpreter, but with the people who frequent him a little he manages to interact quite well on his own “.
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The story of Ruggero
Ruggero’s story begins in 2010 on a beautiful sunny day, in the Alps, near Cuneo. He is 58 years old. He shares a passion for the mountains with his wife. Just the year before he reached 7,200. And he trains to climb a peak in the Himalayas. He doesn’t smoke, checks his health, walks to work, runs every day.
He goes up with two friends. For the descent he remains alone to abseil. But at the meeting point he is not seen. Two mountaineers climbing up spot him. The helicopter picks it up and takes it to the Cuneo hospital: the diagnosis is a hemorrhagic stroke. He is operated on. Doctors talk about possible consequences. He begins the rehabilitation process.
“Today, after so many years, my husband is not totally autonomous but luckily he has maintained the understanding and tenacity of the mountaineer who still manifests every day, with his constant desire to recover as much as possible – says his wife. It’s incredible. how the human being, in need, manages to make the most of every smallest foothold, even with the awareness of his own fragility. The character is also very important, which fortunately has been able to transform itself from rigid into accommodating, without breaking as I feared. The survival instinct has prevailed, my husband continues to think about how to help those less fortunate than him “. Also thanks to music and singing.
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Music therapy combined with rehabilitation
For those who have already completed a rehabilitation process, music therapy becomes a tool to deal with and improve the emotional discomforts linked to their own experience of isolation and depression, very frequent consequences of stroke and aphasia. The path is not easy. After the acute phase of hospitalization, the most difficult period begins: that of rehabilitation which can be physiotherapy and speech therapy or just speech therapy at a local clinic.
This is where he comes to terms with the outcomes of stroke: he is no longer a patient but a person, struck by that traumatic episode that left him speechless, and must re-integrate himself into his family and social fabric by adapting to this new and often painful situation. “It is in this phase that the consequences of losing him are most evident and this can seriously affect the psycho-social well-being – says Nicoletta Reale, Past President of ALICe. Italy Odv. It is here that the figure of the speech therapist takes on a fundamental role: aphasia no longer guarantees the connection between words and meanings and therefore the possibility of expressing one’s thoughts and desires is no longer possible. Of all the disabilities related to stroke, aphasia can be considered the most cruel because it leaves the person speechless, isolates the individual, making him prone to depression, anger, frustration “.
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What is aphasia
L’aphasia it is a speech disorder caused by lesions in particular areas of the cerebral cortex of the dominant hemisphere (mainly the left), the seat of language function. Some aphasic people have difficulty when they have to express themselves verbally while the ability to understand language may remain intact; others, on the other hand, have difficulties when it comes to understanding what they are told. The severity, of course, is extremely variable and depends on the location and size of the brain damage.
For those facing aphasia it can be difficult to be able to follow quick speeches, find the right words to say or understand very long and complex sentences. Whoever finds himself living with an aphasic person must, first of all, understand that living with such a serious disorder can cause even important and sudden changes in mood and, therefore, it would be advisable to have a reassuring and positive attitude.
Language difficulty should not be interpreted as “refusal to speak”: the aphasic person communicates how and when he can, managing to say a word a moment before, but immediately afterwards he could experience difficulties in effectively communicating his thoughts. Fundamental is the rehabilitation approach which, today, is centered not only on the patient but also on the surrounding community, first of all the family, which must approach these new ways of communication.
How long does the rehabilitation process last?
The duration of the treatment is variable, certainly the most intense work, which brings the greatest results, is the one that is carried out over the first 12 months. After this first period, the work focuses mainly on what can be defined as “social rehabilitation”, less linked to the hospital, with a constant adaptation path. In addition to speech therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy therefore there is another rehabilitation tool. It is called music therapy. It helps to activate channels other than the verbal ones generally used. Singing together with others thus becomes an instrument of healing. For the brain and the psyche.
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