Jewoo Im, BA
Medical student
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Rosalind Hurwitz, MS
Research Speech-Language Pathologist
Shirley Ryan Ability Lab
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Leora Cherney, PhD
Director, Center for Aphasia Research and Treatment
Shirley Ryan Ability Lab
Chicago, Illinois, United States
This pilot study examines the impact of choir participation on individuals with aphasia who attend choir either in person or virtually. Aphasia, a language disorder commonly caused by stroke or brain injury, affects communication and can lead to social isolation and a diminished quality of life. Aphasia choir is an appealing adjunctive therapeutic option as it utilizes neural circuits shared by both speech and music while also providing a community for patients with aphasia. To date, a limited number of studies on aphasia choirs has demonstrated inconsistent results, indicating a need for further research. This study aimed to determine whether choir participation provides therapeutic benefits mitigating loneliness and improving quality of life, and whether there are differences in the benefits when the choir is offered in a hybrid format and the person engages virtually or in-person.
Design:
Fourteen participants took part in a five-week program consisting of twice-weekly, 60-minute choir sessions, delivered in a hybrid format to allow both in-person (n = 5) and virtual (n = 9) participation. Outcome measures—including communication confidence, participation, loneliness, and quality of life—were administered before and after the intervention. Participants and their caregivers also completed a general questionnaire to provide additional feedback on their experiences.
Results:
Significant improvements were observed for the Stroke and Aphasia Quality of Life Scale (SAQOL) that was used to assess quality of life. Although other measures showed positive trends, these changes were not statistically significant. No significant differences were found between the in-person and virtual cohorts. The qualitative feedback from the questionnaires indicated a positive overall experience for both participants and caregivers.
Conclusions:
This study provides insights into the feasibility and impact of both in-person and virtual choir interventions for individuals with aphasia, highlighting the potential benefits of incorporating flexible, accessible choir programs into aphasia rehabilitation.
