Many individuals with epilepsy have developmental delays or cognitive impairment in addition to seizures, making the ability to verbalize or connect with others challenging. This is particularly common in rare seizure conditions such as Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), Dravet syndrome, and tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Often, individuals with limited verbal ability turn to art therapy as a way to express themselves. But what if that art could be converted into a sound, a musical tone, or even a song? It could become a whole new art form of expression and a way for families to connect with their loved ones in a unique and special way that never existed before.
Unspoken Symphony was inspired by a 15-year-old girl named Riley. Riley is living with both LGS and TSC, conditions which prevent her from speaking and make traditional methods of nonverbal communication nearly impossible. Yet Riley loved to paint as a form of self-expression. Based on the insight that many people living with these conditions often turn to art as a way to express themselves, Unspoken Symphony was created for Riley and millions of others like her. Unspoken Symphony transforms an expression of art into an expression of soundThe software is now available to the epilepsy community, providing a unique opportunity for family and friends to communicate and connect.
Unspoken Symphony allows artwork of any medium to be uploaded to the website. Within seconds, the art is analyzed and transformed into a melody. Each piece of artwork is given its own unique musical expression. The website’s gallery features the unspoken symphonies of those living with LGS, Dravet syndrome, and TSC. All users will have the ability to create and play their melodies within the website and will receive a printable version of the artwork in the form of sheet music. Additionally, an animated video file of the notes being played on top of their artwork. These items can be saved and shared with family, friends, and via social media channels.
For more information, please visit unspokensymphony.com.
