David Crosby: Joni Mitchell unable to speak after aneurysm

Mitchell is known for songs like Big Yellow Taxi and Case of You

Joni Mitchell is still unable to speak after being found unconscious in her home in March, according to her friend David Crosby.

Crosby said the singer-songwriter had suffered a brain aneurysm and faced a long struggle.

"She is home, she is in care, she is recovering," he told Huffington Post. "How much she's going to come back, and when, I don't know."

There has been no official confirmation of Mitchell's condition.

The 71-year-old was found unconscious in her Los Angeles home on 31 March and taken to hospital.

A statement released on her website several days later said the singer was "resting comfortably" and continued to "improve and get stronger each day".

Her representatives later denied Mitchell was in a coma, saying "she's alert, and she has her full senses".

Crosby produced Mitchell's debut album, Song to a Seagull

"She took a terrible hit," said Crosby on Saturday. "She had an aneurysm, and nobody found her for a while. And she's going to have to struggle back from it the way you struggle back from a traumatic brain injury.

"To my knowledge, she is not speaking yet."

Crosby and Mitchell dated in 1967, when he was still a member of the Byrds. They have remained close friends ever since.

"She's a tough girl and very smart," he said. "I love her. She's probably the best of us — probably the greatest living singer-songwriter.

"[But] I think we're all holding our breath and thinking of goodbye, you know? And hoping it's gonna turn out ok."