The Effects of Modified Melodic Intonation Therapy on Nonfluent Aphasia: A Pilot Study

Objective: Positive results have been reported with melodic intonation therapy (MIT) in nonfluent aphasia patients with damage to their left-brain speech processes, using the patient's intact ability to sing to promote functional language. This pilot study sought to determine the immediate effects of introducing modified melodic intonation therapy (MMIT), a modification of MIT, as an early intervention in stroke patients presenting with Broca's aphasia. Method: After a randomized controlled single-blind design, 30 acute stroke survivors with nonfluent aphasia were randomly assigned to receive MIT treatment or no treatment. A pre/post test, based on the responsive and repetition subsections of the Western Aphasia Battery, was developed for this study. Results: After 1 session, a significant within-subject change was observed for the treatment group's adjusted total score (p = .02), and a significant difference between groups was found for adjusted total score (p = .02) favoring the treatment group. The treatment group also showed a significant change in their responsive subsection scores (p = .01) when their pre-tests from Visit 1 to Visit 2 were compared, whereas the control group showed no change, suggesting a possible carry-over effect of MIT treatment. Conclusion: This study provides preliminary data supporting the possible benefits of utilizing MMIT treatment early in the recovery of nonfluent aphasia patients.