Aphasia & the Impact of Music Therapy on the Elderly Patient

For the aging population, there is a loss of function and independence when communication complications set in. For many senior adults, the loss of communication often comes with a cognitive impairment that complicates speech and language expression. Most notably, the risks of aphasia associated with dementia are quite common.

Aphasia is a complex speech and language complication that results in loss of communication skills. When aphasia is diagnosed, often, your loved one will require the services of a speech and language therapist who can provide aggressive treatment in managing the impairment. While some forms of aphasia are irreversible, there are some that can be slowed, ceased or reversed, depending upon the underlying cause and origin.

As an alternative approach to treating aphasia in the elderly population, some patients are utilizing unique music therapy approaches. Because aphasia is specifically a disorder that involves a loss of language recognition and retrieval, music therapy can provide a unique option in treatment. Using music and songs that are familiar to the elderly patient, areas of the brain that store language retrieval and language recognition capabilities, can be strengthened. Because many songs utilize short phrases, the use of familiar lyrics can provide for a language recognition exercise in music therapy programs.

In some elderly adults, the use of music therapy may simply conjure a recollection of lyrics but, unfortunately, this recollection of lyrics does not imply the meaning of the language spoken is understood. That is to say, the language retrieval process may work perfectly but the language recognition may not function as planned. The only way to determine what is most beneficial is to utilize music therapy for several sessions to determine if the aphasia is, at least, slowed in progression.

When considering music therapy for a loved one who is experiencing aphasia, it is important to understand that, often, the development of aphasia leads to the early detection of dementia. While in the early stages of aphasia, the mental faculties of your loved one may very well be in place. As a result, when music therapy does not produce the results needed, your loved one may become extremely frustrated and further distressed. For this reason, when considering music therapy as a form of treatment for aphasia, approach the therapy as a fun and engaging experience rather than a treatment that must work to be successful.

As with any form of language complication, it is important to seek medical attention early. While in many senior adults the complications with language retrieval and language recognition can be slowed with age, there are some who will experience such a complication in connection with aphasia and the early onset of dementia. When symptoms of aphasia are confirmed, seek forms of therapy, including the use of music therapy as a viable option for treatment.