The benefits of humor, playing pool and singing songs

Before breakfast, I asked a member what activities he liked the most at the Headway Centre. To my surprise, he replied, “I love doing the dishes.” I expected to hear lively descriptions about the popular activities at the centre. Then, he commented that I did not recognize sarcasm. I thought this was amusing because one of our class discussions and a journal article by Sullivan and Riccio (2010) explored the topic of language deficits pertaining to the misunderstanding of non- literal speech such as sarcasm and slang following a TBI. Later, a staff member explained to me that I would know that I fit in at the centre when the same member would make jokes about me. The member replied that we would know that I fit in at the centre because I fit through the door. I laughed and thought that was a humorous literal observation.

I noticed the openness and trust that the members have with the staff and volunteers. I had a conversation with a member who was fond of playing pool. He explained to me that he had experienced an aneurysm and had lost most of his eyesight. Playing pool helped him to train his eyesight and some of the areas of his brain to compensate and was an activity for enjoyment. I thought his method of using a hobby as a form of treatment was very beneficial for his health. This is relative to the class discussion about methods of treatment and how a physical therapy can be more appropriate than a pharmacological therapy in some cases.

As a comparison to playing pool, here is a video from World Health News showing visual therapy methods using electronic lights and prisms.

I stayed after breakfast to participate in a musical singing session lead by one of the members who played the piano and his friend who sang the lyrics. From our last class discussion, music therapy was mentioned to cause constant cross hemisphere communication and an immediate increase in mood. During the singing session, I noticed a bit of anxiety from the members because they were shy or needed assistance in reading the lyrics. However, positive encouragement came from the staff to motivate the members to sing and read the lyrics. I think this was a valuable activity for social bonding, rehabilitation of speech disorders and emotional expression.

For further explanation about music therapy, I would like to share this Tedx lecture from a doctor and muscial therapist elaborating on the value of music for infants, autistic individuals, and traumatic brain injuries.

If anyone is interested in reading about music therapy, I read an online book named “Music Therapy and Traumatic Brain Injury: A Light on a Dark Night” by Simon Gilbertson and David Aldridge (2008). The book emphasizes that “[b]reathing is a central principle in communication and healing, and forms the basis of so many therapeutic disciplines that we would perhaps be advised to encourage our clinicians towards their breath and away from their machines.”