The     SIPARI®     treatment     is     a     specifically     targeted     music- supported    training    for    patients    suffering    from    neurological speech   and   language   disorders   e.g.   aphasia,   apraxia   of   speech, dysarthria.    Treatment    objectives    include    improving    linguistic, motor,   and   cognitive   functions   and   thereby   supporting   speech- motor      processes      and      also      planning      and      sequencing performance    constituting    the    basis    for    language-systematic processes.    Since    specifically    targeted    therapy    interventions require   well-grounded   diagnostics,   a   SIPARI®   diagnostic   is   the starting   point.   Adjusted   to   the   specific   needs   of   each   patient,   an impairment-related   use   of   the   human   voice   forms   the   basis   of this therapy. Rhythmic-melodic    voice    training    i.e.    a    specifically    structured program,     which     stepwise     varies     vocalization,     melodic     and rhythmic    components    in    combination    with    sounds,    syllables, words,   and   phrases   represents   the   main   part   of   the   therapy. Additionally,   rhythmic   cognition   trainings   (instrumental   and/or vocal)      serve      to      encourage      planning      and      sequencing performance   while   social   interaction   is   supported   by   means   of musical   communication   trainings   on   instruments   that   do   not require    any    previous    musical    education.    The    efficacy    of    this training   method   was   proven   in   several   studies   with   patients suffering     from     chronic     Broca’s     and     Global     aphasia     (see international    publications).    Current    research    results,    which were   assessed   by   cognitive   and   neural   methods   of   examination (fMRI),   demonstrate   that   even   patients   suffering   from   chronic Global   aphasia   and   concomitant   apraxia   of   speech   also   benefit remarkably   from   this   treatment   ( see   Neural   Plasticity ,   Cortex ). In    all    of    these    studies,    assessments    were    performed    by    a standardized   and   psychometrically   verified   language   procedure (Aachener Aphasie Test).

Evidence-based music-supported therapy for chronic aphasia patients Dr.   Monika   Jungblut   has   developed   the   SIPARI®   method,   which was   first   tested   in   cooperation   with   the   Medical   Faculty   of   the University     of     Witten-Hedecke.     In     a     controlled     group-study, patients     suffering     from     severe,     chronic     aphasia,     who     were treated    according    to    the    SIPARI®-method,    could    significantly improve   their   speech   performance   (assessed   by   a   standardized language    test,    the    Aachener    Aphasie    Test).    It    is    important    to emphasize    that    these    improvements    were    achieved    also    by patients who had suffered from aphasia for over 11 years! In   2010   this   study   was   included   in   the   Cochrane   Review   “Music therapy    for    acquired    brain    injury”    ( download )    in    the    category “communication” as the only evidence-based method. ( Bradt   J,   Magee   WL,   Dileo   C,   Wheeler   BL,   McGilloway   E.   Music   therapy   for   acquired brain    injury.    Cochrane    Database    of    Systematic    Reviews    2010,    Issue    7.    Art.    No.: CD006787. DOI: 10.1002/14651858. CD006787.pub2.) In    line    with    current    research    from    the    field    of    speech    and language    rehabilitation,    SIPARI®    is    also    offered    as    intensive training (2 or 3 sessions per day over a period of two weeks). Within   the   last   ten   years   outstanding   improvements   have   been achieved    by    these    intensive    trainings    in    the    Interdisciplinary Institute   for   Music-   and   Speech-Therapy   in   Germany.   Dr.   Jungblut conducts   training   courses   for   therapists   in   Germany,   Austria,   and Switzerland.    For    further    information    concerning    her    current research, see research.