Utilizing case studies from the RHN, this session considers the neuroscience of human communication and storytelling, and the use of songwriting to support clients reflect on their, often traumatic, experiences of accident, injury, and recovery through the reframing of events and losses, their altered function and identity.

There are nearly 1000 hospital admissions for Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) each day with the most common causes being traumatic brain injury (usually the result of a violent blow or jolt to the head), stroke, and hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury after cardiac arrest. ABI can have significant impact not only on the clients physical and cognitive abilities, it can also significantly impact mood and emotional wellbeing.

Emotional and cognitive impairments have significant impact the individual’s rehabilitation in a variety of interconnected ways by moderating, or interfering with recovery. Pervasive low mood can detrimentally affect motivation and engagement in therapies which in turn, has a clear correlation with the level of functional outcomes, dependency in activities of daily living and ultimately, the likelihood of home discharge

Both remediation and adaptive rehabilitation pathways require engagement, attention, retention and recall of information/actions, with generalization of learning to new or novel situations. Music therapy offers a non-verbal way of connecting and communicating with clients to help start their process of recovery, navigating their injury, sense of self, and future wellbeing.

Amanda will talk about the use of music and song-writing in the support of clients with ABI.