Feasibility of Integrating Music Therapy into Routine Speech-Language Rehabilitation for Post-Stroke Aphasia: A Real-World Outpatient Study.

Abstract

BackgroundEvidence on the feasibility of integrating music therapy into routine post-stroke aphasia rehabilitation in real-world settings remains limited.ObjectiveTo examine the feasibility of integrating a structured music therapy protocol into conventional speech-language therapy for post-stroke aphasia and explore preliminary outcomes.MethodsThis quasi-experimental study was conducted in an outpatient speech-language clinic in Thailand. Participants received standard speech-language therapy or therapy combined with a manualised music therapy protocol. The intervention represents a dose-augmented feasibility design, as the experimental group received increased overall therapeutic contact time. Language performance was assessed using the Thai Adaptation of the Western Aphasia Battery, and anxiety using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Form Y-2. Pre-post changes were examined using descriptive statistics and exploratory analyses, including paired tests for within-group comparisons and independent tests for between-group differences.ResultsThe intervention was feasible, with complete delivery and assessment. Within-group improvements in language performance were observed in both groups, with greater gains in the music therapy-augmented group; however, between-group differences were not statistically significant. Anxiety scores decreased in both groups, with no significant differences. Interpretation of anxiety outcomes is limited by the use of a trait-based measure, which may reflect the limited sensitivity of trait-based measure to short-term changes.ConclusionsIntegrating music therapy into routine speech-language rehabilitation for post-stroke aphasia is feasible in a real-world outpatient setting. Findings should be interpreted as exploratory and reflective of increased therapeutic exposure rather than modality-specific effectiveness. These results inform the design of future dose-matched and methodologically rigorous trials.