Sounding Out!
You can watch 'Sounding Out' here.  This 9 minute film is a snapshot of one afternoon out of a six-month sound and song project. The project took place in the Stroke Rehabilitation Unit at The Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath for Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust (BSUH NHS Trust).
(You will need flash player to watch this film. Click here to load flash player if you need it.)

Sounding Out! is a singing treatment using music as medicine, aimed at empowering and rebuilding confidence, self-esteem and communication skills through the use of sound and song. This treatment helps people to find their voice on many levels. 

Stroke can affect anyone (though on this particular afternoon older patients are portrayed). Following a stroke around a third of people will have some level of communication difficulties. These problems frequently lead to fear and frustration, anxiety, anger, despair, depression, loss of confidence and withdrawal. People who have suffered strokes can often sing and retrieve lyrics in song despite speech complications. Just watch Arthur, in the yellow tee-shirt, singing lyrics fluently and then later poignantly trying to express himself in words.

I am hugely grateful to Lee Soden, Director of Facilities and Capital Development, BSUH NHS Trust and Jeni Sharpstone, Chair of the Arts Advisory Group, BSUH NHS Trust, for believing in this work. They held the vision and were instrumental in making these exciting arts-in-healthcare initiatives happen. To all the patients, their loved-ones and carers whose stories stay with me – thank you for entering into unfamiliar territory with such courage. To the hospital staff – nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists (in particular, Clare Norman) who have all encouraged and been so willing to join in (we all need to find our voice!) - thank you so much. To Barbara Myers and Paul Loman for their generosity, sensitivity and expertise in making this film, thank you both.

You can also watch a 12-minute BBC South East Today Special Report on Lou's 'Sounding Out!' project. Click here to view. 

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