Stroke Patients:


People who have suffered strokes can often sing and retrieve lyrics in song despite speech complications, and music has been shown to be an effective tool in rehabilitation. 

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. 

I have run a number of projects with people recovering from strokes for Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust (BSUH Trust) and it has been enormously rewarding to observe how singing can help lift mood and stimulate motivation. 

In conjunction with the Stroke Association community support service I facilitate workshops for a Dysphasia Support Group in West Sussex. I have also launched a singing group, 'Singing in the Rain Chorus', for stroke survivors with communication difficulties.

“Lou has a very relaxed manner and made the environment so safe that we were able to take part with ease. Watching the faces, lip patterns, feet tapping and eye contact of the members showed me that they were engaged in a profound way. I appreciate Lou’s genuine interest in the group and feel that she has made a difference to our lives this morning.” Helen Simmonds, Stroke Association Communication Support Coordinator.

Go to film to see Sounding Out! - a nine-minute film made by Barbara Myers (of BBC R4) about my work with music on the stroke unit for BSUH Trust. This project ran weekly for 6 months and the film is a glimpse of one afternoon of this 'singing treatment'.


    Contact Lou