Cleveland Clinic shows music therapy can help stroke patients overcome aphasia.

 Therapists at the Cleveland Clinic say music therapy can support stroke patients overcome aphasia.  Music is processed through the RIGHT side of the brain, can retrain the LEFT side, which controls language and speech.

Music, lyrics and instruments are all used in therapy sessions wil Bill Forrester, a college professor, who suffered a stroke to the left side of his brain 4 years ago. A former public speaker, whom loves to talk  says he felt trapped in his body by the aphasia.

Lisa Gallagher, a Cleveland Clinic music therapist, says, singing has helped him regain the use of speech and the keyboard and guitar are used for fine motor skills.

The professor who couldn’t walk or talk four years ago is now running marathons, singing, and plans to go to Mexico to teach children how to speak English.