Effekt på ordflöde vid strukturerad rytm- och musikterapi enligt Ronnie Gardiner

Sammanfattning: Ronnie Gardiner Method (RGM) is a multi-sensory training method aimed for peoplewith brain damage. The method is based on music, rhythm and movement. Previousstudies show that the method provides improved balance, gait, grip strength andworking memory and has positive effects regarding motor skills, cognition and on anemotional level. Few studies have studied RGM's impact on language. However, RGMhas been seen to have a positive effect on word flow. The purpose of the present thesisis to deepen knowledge about how RGM affects the flow of words in people withacquired brain damage with and without aphasia, and to investigate relatives' experienceof communication ability before and after RGM training. Eight participants withacquired brain injury, with and without aphasia participated. Tests that was used werethe language battery Western Aphasia Battery - Revised (WAB-R), "Tell a picture"from WAB-R and FAS, animals and verbs and the related form CommunicativeEffectiveness Index (CETI). An improvement in phonological word flow in bothpersons with and without aphasia was noted. However, no difference was seen in termsof semantic word flow and relative estimation of communication ability. Unexpectedly,lower number of words / minute and decreased lexical density after treatment werenoted, while a tendency for increased lexical variation was measured.