Singing helps cadence victims to speak again

Doctors have restored the power of speech to stroke victims by teaching them to sing words and phrases.

The pioneering technique has been tested successfully on dozens of patients left unable to talk after suffering damage to the left side of their brain.

Singing can restore the power of speech to stroke victims, say doctors

Some of the stroke victims --previously unable to put two words together - can now give speeches in public, researchers say.

Dr Gottfried Schlaug said the technique could work for thousands and be taught at home

Dr Gottfried Schlaug, a neurologist at Beth Israel Deaconess MedicalCentre and Harvard Medical School, said the technique could work forthousands of patients and be taught in the home.

Around 150,000people have a stroke in Britain each year. The condition occurs when ablood clot or burst blood vessel starves part of the brain of oxygen.

Doctorshave known for a century that stroke victims who can"t speak cansometimes sing clearly. This is because the part of the brain thatdeals with language is separate from the region that processes music.

Thetechnique was developed in the 1970s, but then ignored, Dr Schlaug toldthe American Association for the Advancement of Science. "We have takenit another step by taking this therapy and really proving the efficacyof this," he said.