Musical expertise as a consideration for post-stroke rehabilitation: A retrospective clinical case example

Functional areas addressed within a best practice multidisciplinary rehabilitation framework typically encapsulate mobility, communication and activities of daily living for stroke survivors. Traditionally reported rehabilitative music therapy interventions contribute to this functional model. This retrospective clinical case describes the retention of musical skills following a severe diffuse bilateral stroke and explores the value of rehabilitating musical skills as a target for functional rehabilitation, in an individual with pre-morbid musical expertise. This case illuminates the concept of a musical recovery bias in a stroke survivor and presents an argument for the consideration of musical skills as an important focus for individuals with pre-morbid musical expertise.