title: Singing by speechless (aphasic) children: Victorian medical observations.
abstract: In the second half of the nineteenth century, British clinicians made observations regarding the ability of individuals with impaired language abilities to sing or hum. One notable publication was of two cases of children briefly observed by John Hughlings Jackson (1835-1911) in 1871. These children were speechless but could produce some musical expression. Other such cases attracted the attention of Victorian clinicians who were actively pursuing theoretical questions regarding the organization of brain function and laterality. The presence of musical expression in children who failed to develop spoken language was seen as a notable symptom for early practitioners of pediatric neurology.
authors: Applied Linguistics and Communication, School of Social Sciences, History, and Philosophy, Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK. Electronic address: m.lorch@bbk.ac.uk.
authors: Marjorie Perlman
authors: MP
authors: Lorch
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
authors: Samuel H
authors: SH
authors: Greenblatt
mesh_terms: D001037:Aphasia / Q000266:history* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D009462:Neurology; D063346:Singing / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children; Jackson (John Hughlings); National Hospital for Paralysis and Epilepsy; West (Charles); aphasia; developmental disorders; localization; nineteenth century; singing; speech