Ladywood singer Ann fights back after stroke
Oct 6 2010 by Diane Parkes, Birmingham Mail
“I couldn’t move and I couldn’t speak.”
But Ann said she was determined to regain as much of her previous life as possible.
And 18 months on she has regained her mobility and improved her communication skills. Ann joined the Heart of Birmingham Communication Support Group organised by The Stroke Association to help her on the road to recovery.
And it was the group which encouraged Ann to take to the stage once more.
She took part in a concert at the Unitarian New Meeting Church.
“I sang Summertime by Billie Holiday and Amazing Grace.
“The concert was full and everyone was crying.”
Volunteer Kate Green says: “The concert had the aim of raising awareness of aphasia and as a side benefit it raised about £1,500 for the Stroke Association.”
Ann has also joined a drama group and is confident that the improvements in her skills will continue.
“I will sing again,” she says. And when asked if she means professionally Ann nods her head and says a definite “yes”. Ann has been hugely helped by speech therapy at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital, as well as the weekly Heart of Birmingham Communication Support Group organised by The Stroke Association.
Group organiser Sonia Golding explains: “The group ranges from people with some communication ability to those who have no speech at all. We do all kinds of activities including reading and writing, but the main benefit is the social interaction. When someone loses the ability to speak they can become very isolated.”
Aphasia is caused by damage to the portions of the brain which are responsible for language. Affecting expression and understanding of language, reading and writing, it can make communication very difficult.
And yet people with aphasia can sometimes sing because a different piece of the brain is activated with music, explains Stroke Association research liaison officer Dr Sharlin Ahmed.
“There are pieces of research to suggest that music and singing can aid with the rewiring process of the brain,” he says.
