Modern medicine still has much to learn about what might help accelerate the process of coming out of a coma. Christiane Kittel emerged from a 7-year coma when her mother took her to a Bryan Adams rock concert. Lori Smith gave her first sign of awakening from a coma when her children said, “Mom, if you love us and you hear us, move your eyes.” (See video: Miracle Mom Awakes from Coma) And Emma Ray, comatose for weeks, shocked her husband when she responded to his request for a kiss by turning her face and giving him a little kiss. She is now home with her family.
How much power does a loving voice have in bringing someone out of a coma?
Researchers at Northwestern University are investigating that question in an ongoing study. Through headphones, coma patients spend several periods each day listening to the recorded voices of friends and family. One 21-year-old patient in the study has emerged from his coma and is back to texting his friends again, but further research is needed before any conclusions can be drawn.
The power of a loving voice has already been demonstrated in another study, showing that a nurturing mother’s voice can lower a child’s stress over the phone – even without being physically present for comforting hugs and eye contact. Future research may continue to surprise us about how great the power of a loving voice might be in comforting us emotionally and even helping to heal us physically.
“Love is the voice under all silences.” – E.E. Cummings
(DrDebBrown.com)
About DrDeb
I'm a South Florida Business Coach, offering assessments, coaching, training, and other profit-boosting services. I bring to the table a Ph.D., an MBA, DDI-certification as a facilitator, award-winning leadership skills, a Florida license as a psychologist, numerous honors (e.g., summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa), and years of experience partnering with leaders at all organizational levels – from sole proprietors to senior level executives at Fortune 500 companies. Follow me on Twitter: @DrDebBrown.
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