Melodic intonation therapy

Melodic intonation therapy is a special kind of therapy that helps people who have trouble speaking. Imagine you have a friend who has a hard time talking, maybe because they had a stroke or a brain injury. With melodic intonation therapy, they practice saying things in a sing-song-y way instead of speaking normally.

Here's how it works: first, your friend listens to someone singing a word or phrase they want to say. Then, your friend tries to sing the same word or phrase using the same tune. After your friend gets good at that, they try to sing the same word or phrase without the tune, but with the same kind of up and down patterns in their voice.

Basically, it's like training wheels for talking. By singing the words, it helps the brain re-learn how to put together sounds and patterns in a way that makes sense. It might not be easy at first, but it can help your friend speak more and more like they used to.