Singing uses bi-hemispheric brain activation and activates more parts of the brain than almost any activity. “Singing necessitates activation of several cortical, subcortical, cerebellar, and brainstem areas, served and coordinated by multiple neural networks. Functionally vital cortical areas of the frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes bilaterally participate in the brain's activation process during singing, confirming the latter's role in human communication.” (Mavridis & Pyrgelis, 2016)
Why is SingFit great for speech and occupational therapy homework?
SingFit STUDIO Caregiver supports carryover of skills learned in speech and occupational therapy and acts as an engaging speech and language exercise for clients to use at home. SingFit can also promote engagement with daily activities. Music can be a powerful conduit for eliciting episodic memories and reminiscence. As such, it can prompt topic initiation and narrative speech in a way that few things can. Spousal caregivers have even shared that they felt a closeness and connection to their partner with dementia that they hadn’t felt in years while using SingFit.
SingFit STUDIO Caregiver is based on research showing that singing supports neuroplasticity and cognitive stimulation. Singing with SingFit is sure to be an active cognitive exercise for caregivers and their loved ones with cognitive decline. Because SingFit is so engaging, it may also be a form of homework that clients enjoy doing and promote adherence to plan of care.
Furthermore, singing has been shown to support physical health. It promotes immunity and some studies found an increase of Immunoglobulin A after singing (Chanda & Levitin, 2013). Singing can also help facilitate healthy breathing and strengthen breath support and musculature. SingFit can easily be paired with other breath, voice, or articulation exercises. As such, SingFit can be a home lung exercise for those with Parkinson’s, long-COVID syndrome, COPD, and those in wheelchairs.
Singing can also support emotional well-being by improving quality of life and eliciting positive emotions. Singing can be a joyful way to connect with one’s identity and share personal history. Additionally, it can help build rapport and relationships between therapist, client, and caregiver. When used at home it can support mood and facilitate bonding with the caregiver.
The bottom line is that SingFit supports cognitive health while promoting emotional health and well-being. It can be a fun way to exercise and strengthen the lungs while gaining voice awareness and prompting narrative speech. Additionally, the lyric coach can be turned up or down, allowing clients to exercise their working memory and auditory attention (hearing lyrics, then singing). The lyric coach can also support cognition and memory by turning the lyric coach off and singing the lyrics by heart.
What type of homework should you give?
We recommend that your clients use SingFit 2-3X per week for 20+ minutes to get the most benefit. There are so many ways to use SingFit to promote well-being and exercise speech mechanisms. We would love to hear how you incorporate SingFit into your client’s care plan! Email us at studio@singfit.com to share your stories.
Stay tuned for our next blog post regarding what outcomes you can expect from using SingFit in therapy sessions. Click Here to find out how to set your clients up for success with SingFit!
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