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Helping people to re-learn language skills after suffering
a stroke or other brain injury might seem an unusual
area for local government intervention, but it’s hitting all
the right notes at Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre.
The City of Port Adelaide Enfield has partnered with the
centre and the Talkback Association for Aphasia to start
a new choir, called ‘Retune’, at the Kilburn Community
Centre. It’s part of an exciting new project focussed on
improving community-based services for people with
aphasia, which causes difficulties in understanding,
reading, talking, writing and using numbers.
“We use language in nearly everything that we do,”
said Brain Injury Rehabilitation Therapist at Hampstead,
Bev Dodd. “Recent research has shown that people
living with severe aphasia experience a significantly
worse quality of life compared to the remainder of
the population.”
Ms Dodd said an initiative by Port Adelaide Enfield
Council led to a small delegation investigating a
Victorian choir formed for people with aphasia which,
in turn, has led to establishment of a similar choir here.
Formed in April this year under the guidance of a choir
master and music therapist, Retune has since held two
public performances.
“It’s already been very useful,” Bev said, “with some of
its members showing significant improvements. Singing
is often used for people with aphasia in the early stages
of speech therapy treatment, because people who are
unable to talk are sometimes able to produce words
when singing.
“It is thought that singing may provide a framework
where melody, stress and rhythm help the individual
access the words.”
Ms Dodd said that, because of their difficulties,
aphasia sufferers were often isolated from family
and friends, which meant the choir also provided
an important social opportunity.
“As well as having positive effects on general
mobility, social interaction, mood and emotional
stability, participation in musical activities such as
singing in a choir provides an opportunity to meet
others with aphasia and work on producing a
meaningful performance.”
The creation of the choir not only helps underpin
the importance of the innovative work being
carried out by the Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre,
it also demonstrates the important role played by
Port Adelaide Enfield’s community centres.
Council partnership hits the right note
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