17 Jan 2011
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.
I received some great news last week from Anna regarding my dad’s progress. She took him to see a new speech pathologist who uses Melodic Intonation Therapy and saw results on the first visit.
Definition:
Melodic Intonation Therapy (MIT) is a therapeutic process used by music therapists and speech pathologists to help patients with communication disorders caused by brain damage. This method uses a style of singing called melodic intonation to stimulate activity in the right hemisphere of the brain in order to assist in speech production
When Anna told me about MIT, it totally made sense. Dad has always loved music and singing. When he was in the hospital after his stroke, we played CCR and Hank Williams on repeat for him and he hummed along even when it seemed like he wasn’t really paying attention. When he was released to go home, I visited with my ukulele (which made him laugh) and played “Out My Back Door” in the kitchen with him while he laughed and hummed along. “Dooo, dooo dooo”
By the end of the session, the therapist had my dad singing “Hi how are you” clear as day. He didn’t realize he said it because he was using a different part of his brain, but the reaction he got from the therapist and Anna was so positive that he became emotional. This is huge because the only words he can say right now through regular speech is ‘Ken’…and a few profanities. (It’s quite funny).
Dad has stayed positive through this, and I know it’s because of the amazing support he receives from his loving girlfriend Anna. I’m so thankful for her, without her in our lives I would likely have set off on a very different path post-stroke.
Onwards and upwards, a great way to start off the new year!
