APPLICATIONS OF MUSIC FOR THE TREATMENT OF APHASIA AND RELATED COMMUNICATION DISORDERS, IN POST-STROKE PATIENTS

Abstract

The purpose of the present literature review is to point out the importance of music, as a therapeutic tool for the post-stroke aphasic patients. The patients with non-fluent aphasia constitute the primary patients’ group in which music therapy methods are being applied, targeting the rehabilitation of communication by facing aphasia in an overall manner. Based on this holistic way of treatment, the present study refers to music therapy techniques that treat not only aphasia, but also neurogenic motor speech disorders (i.e., apraxia and dysarthria) and cognitive and mood disorders that usually appear with aphasia and comprise indirect obstacles for the therapeutic process.