Monday, February 22, 2010

Stroke Recovery and Music


There have been several articles in BBC News regarding music and stroke recovery. Here's a sampling of the articles:
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Music 'can aid stroke recovery'

Listening to music in the early stages after a stroke can improve a patient's recovery, research suggests.

The researchers compared patients who listened to music for a couple of hours a day, with those who listened only to audio books, or nothing at all. more

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Stroke patient says Kenny Rogers helped brain recovery
By Jane Elliott
Health reporter, BBC News

Mike Pensom loves country and western music, particularly anything by Kenny Rogers. He hates hip hop and rap. But recently Mike found that his musical likes and dislikes also have a profound effect on his brain. Twenty years ago Mike had a stroke which caused problems with the left-hand side of his body and left him missing things in part of his field of vision.

Favourite tunes

But when scientists played him his favourite tunes he has seen more - and when they played the stuff he did not like there was no change. more

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'Music helped me recover from stroke'
By Jane Elliott
Health reporter, BBC News

Just four days after his wife's funeral following her death from a stroke, Cyril Merle had a massive stroke himself. The 86-year-old was paralysed down the left side of his body and had difficulty speaking and eating. He needed daily physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and gym workouts during the nine months he spent recovering in his local hospital in Horsham, West Sussex, before being allowed home.

Now - aged 91 - Cyril is fully recovered and able to do even more than he was before the stroke. He credits his love of music for helping speed up his recovery. more