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ERIC Number: EJ1251516
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1368-2822
EISSN: N/A
The Effects of Choral Singing on Communication Impairments in Acquired Brain Injury: A Systematic Review
Monroe, Penelope; Halaki, Mark; Kumfor, Fiona; Ballard, Kirrie J.
International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, v55 n3 p303-319 May-Jun 2020
Background: Acquired brain injury (ABI), such as Parkinson's disease, dementia or stroke, can result in communication difficulties that lead to an impoverished ability to connect meaningfully with others. Choral singing is a complex task that uses multiple brain regions which are also responsible for language and communication skills. The potential therapeutic effects of group singing on communication-related outcomes across ABI aetiologies have not been systematically reviewed. Aims: To examine whether participation in group singing over multiple sessions improves speech, voice, language and/or communication skills in individuals with ABI-related communication disorders. Methods & Procedures: A database search was undertaken according to the PRISMA guidelines. Search terms included: stroke OR Parkinson* OR dementia OR 'acquired brain injury' AND choir OR choral OR singing OR sing OR 'choral sing*' OR group adj3 singing OR community adj3 singing AND speech OR language OR communication. Main Contribution: A total of 11 studies were included. Nine were quantitative, including one randomized and one non-randomized control trial, and two were mixed method. Nine studies were scored as level IV (uncontrolled) on the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Classification of Evidence Matrix and two as level III (e.g., lack of blinded assessors). Eight examined speech and voice skills in Parkinson's disease, two functional communication skills in post-stroke aphasia and one communication between individuals with dementia and a significant other. One level III control trials provided evidence for a therapeutic effect of group singing on communication in individuals with Parkinson's disease. Conclusions & Implications: Currently, there is only one study providing support for using group singing to improve speech and voice skills in people with Parkinson's disease, and no studies of adequate quality indicating positive effects on language and functional communication abilities in ABI. Further research using more rigorous experimental designs is required to determine whether group singing can influence communication skills in ABI.
Wiley-Blackwell. 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148. Tel: 800-835-6770; Tel: 781-388-8598; Fax: 781-388-8232; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Information Analyses
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A