Texas Tech Health Sciences Center’s STAR Program Offers Musical Therapy For Vicitms Of Aphasia [AUDIO]

On Thursday's edition of Lubbock's First News, Melinda Corwin from the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center talked with Tom Collins and Laura Mac about their program to help aphasia victims.

Aphasia is a language disorder, usually caused by stroke, that results in a loss of speech. The Stroke Aphasia Recovery Program, or STAR Program, helps aphasia victims by offering services such as speech therapy, caregiver's support, and social support.

One of the more unique forms of therapy the STAR Program uses is choir music. Corwin explained that the reason they use singing is because aphasia usually affects the right side of the brain more than the left side, and the right side of the brain is also most receptive to music. She added that aphasia victims are often mistaken for mentally disabled because of their condition, and she stressed that aphasia is not a loss of intelligence, just a loss of speech.

The STAR program will host their final choir concert of the season on Tuesday, July 30th, at 7:30 PM at the Quaker Avenue Church of Christ. For more information, call Melinda at 806-743-5660 or E-mail her at melinda.corwin@ttuhsc.edu.

Listen to the full interview with Melinda Corwin here:

Mobile Download: KFYOLFN_corwin_072513

Be sure and tune in to Lubbock's First News with Tom Collins and Laura Mac weekdays from 6 AM to 8:30 AM on NewsTalk 790 KFYO and online at KFYO.com.