Debra Meyerson was hiking near Lake Tahoe 15 months ago when a stroke destroyed part of the left side of her brain, leaving her literally speechless. It happens to more than 150,000 Americans a year.
But now Meyerson is learning to talk again through an approach that trains the undamaged right side of her brain to "speak." Specifically, it's a region that controls singing.
Here's a fascinating story on NPR about the use of singing therapy for speech recovery after stroke. I'm interested in the technique, in the results that are possible, and in the report of using MRI in identical twins to image the changes the therapy effected. Thanks to Denise Graveline (@dontgetcaught) for digging this one out.
For another story about brain injury, see today's New York Times, When Injuries to the Brain Tear at Hearts.