Aphasia Support Group

Insurance.....May Not Be Our Friend

2011-12-05T08:12:00.000-08:00

Unfortuantely we are all strapped by insurance when it comes to our health. Dealing with insurance can be a good experience (when they pay) but many times it can be a bad experience. Many, many times insurance companies will decline your claim assuming (and hoping) that you will just pay it and move on. However, a lot of times if you fight it, you can overturn it. The problem is that it takes lots of time and energy. Most of what has been already taken from you dealing with your loved ones stroke or other medical issues. Who has the energy to fight insurance companies after what all you have been through?

I went to a conference this weekend given by a Speech Pathologist who fights many insurance claims for her clients. Sometimes it takes several appeals before it is overturned, which in turn may be several months. She told a story of how one insurance representative she spoke to continued to tell her that the speech therapy services were not covered for her patient. But then at the END of the conversation the employee proceeded to ask her, "by the way, what exactly is aphasia?". She was denying coverage and did not even know what she was denying! On another occasion, another insurance rep told her that the insurance company had declined a claim because the services had to be done by a Speech Therapist and not a Speech Pathologist (they are the same thing). Again, lack of knowledge.

I myself just went through a similar nightmare. Even though I had maternity insurance during my pregnancy, my insurance company repeatedly denied coverage for things such as ultrasounds and dr visits and even the birth stating that the insurance only covered routine maternity. I had a normal, non-eventful pregnancy, so I guess they thought I would be doing all of that if I were not pregnant. Long story short, I fought each denial and one by one, I won. It took about 6-8 months with many, many phone calls and emails, but I won. I got back several thousands of dollars. I don't know which was better, the money I got back or the satisfaction of beating the bully.

I say all of this to say, don't give up. If you think your insurance is wrong in denying your claim, fight it. Get your doctor, therapist and whoever else you need involoved. They will decline several times. Just expect that, but know in the end it could be worth the fight.

Thank you Nightline!

2011-11-16T08:51:00.000-08:00

With the story of Senator Gabrielle Gifford's recovery continuing, Nightline had a special earlier this week focusing on her progression with her "speech". I am happy to say they specifically talked about "expressive aphasia" and gave details of how it affects an individual. I have blogged before about how rare it is to hear the word "aphasia" in the media even though it is so prevelant. I am thankful to them for the education they provided to increase the awareness of this condition. You can see the story in full at http://abcnews.go.com/Health/w_MindBodyNews/gabby-giffords-finding-voice-music-therapy/story?id=14903987.

Her progress is amazing! I hope it gives great hope to others in similar situations.

Don't Forget the Caregivers

2011-11-15T08:09:00.000-08:00

In my last blog, I talked about the different emotional sides of the people who suffer from aphasia. While this is a very relevant topic, it is just as important to discuss the emotional sides of a caregiver. I mentioned last time the man who had severe expressive aphasia (unable to get most of his words out) but was still very happy and positive even though he really couldn't communicate. Well, it was a different story when I met his wife. She came in to talk with me and she was the farthest from joyful and positive. She was completely overwhelmed. Here she had her husband who had supported her financially, who was extremely intelligent, but now couldn't get across the most basic thought. Her role in life had completely changed. Everything, and I mean everything, was now her responsibility. She was in the process of fighting insurance companies for more visits, paying all the bills, taking care of all his appointments, taking him to all his appointments (he can't drive now), taking care of his business (he was a successful business owner), and the list goes on and on. Who could blame her for being overwhelmed! Then there is also the personal side of it. She had "lost" the man she used to carry on conversations with. Who she could converse with whenever she needed his advice or just to hear how his day was. Now all their conversations are one-sided. He can listen and understand everything, but is unable to respond, unable to interact with her. So caregivers, allow yourself to mourn. What has happened is not fair. This has probably affected you as much as your loved one. So as easy as it is to tell yourself to "be strong", allow yourself to mourn what has happened. Don't be hesitant to ask others for help either. And finally, find a support group. You need an outlet, someone to talk to that understands your pain. Best wishes to you all.

The Emotional Side of Aphasia

2011-11-07T09:40:00.000-08:00

As a speech therapist, I work with individuals with aphasia almost every day I walk through the hospital door. In therapy, I work hard on helping each one improve his/her communication skills but I also am there as an outlet for the emotional side. As you can imagine, it is very frustrating for a person to be sitting at a table in a small room for an hour of his/her life trying to "relearn" how to talk. When just a few weeks ago, talking was a skill never thought about. You just did it. I have a client now that cries almost every time we meet. She even jokes about it at times saying "Well, I'm going to go cry now" when walking back to the therapy room; or points to me saying as she's laughing, "She's the one that makes me cry!". She is a delightful woman and even though she jokes about the crying, it is a real part of her life.

It's amazing to me to see how drastic a difference people are in their emotional way of dealing with their loss (of words). On one hand, you have the lady I describe above who cries frequently as she can't get some of her words out (although she is able to get her message across most of the time). Then on the other hand, I have 2 clients who seldom are able to get a single word out, but are so joyful and positive all the time. Yes, they do get frustrated when they can't get their messages across, but just seem to blow it off and move on never missing a beat. So positive, so happy to just be alive. I have to say, I don't think I would be that way if I could no longer communicate effectively. They are truly an inspiration to me.

So there is not just one emotional side of aphasia. Each individual handles his or her loss differently. Help the individual deal in his/her own way.

Who has heard of "Aphasia"?

2011-09-21T10:52:00.000-07:00

It is amazing how many phone calls I receive with people saying "I had never heard of aphasia until my husband (or wife, sister, brother, mother, etc.) was diagnosed with it". The truth is you don't hear the word "aphasia" in the newspaper or in the news or in everyday conversation. This is unfortunate. Aphasia affects approimately 1 million Americans and is more prevelant than Parkinson's Disease, Cerebral Palsy or Muscular Dystrophy. Yet, most people know about those diseases. Why is "aphasia" so not known?? My husband showed me an article in the Fortune magazine yesterday about a very successful businessman who had a stroke. It told how the stroke affected his right side of his body and that he couldn't get his words out anymore. It told what a difficult time he had communicating verbally and the struggles he went through during his recovery. But not once did the word "aphasia" occur in the entire article.

Another example is Senator Giffords who suffered a gunshot wound to the head earlier this year. Her horrible story was all over the news for months, following her progress step by step. Although she had all the symptoms of aphasia described in the newspaper articles and on the news, again I never heard the mention of "aphasia".

This is why no one has heard of aphasia. I wish I knew why the media stays clear of the word. It would be helpful to others if it were discussed more so people could learn about it before it affected their lives. Keep your eyes and ears open for aphasia in the media. I would love to hear back if anyone sees or hears of it.

Masking Your Aphasia

2011-03-25T09:31:00.000-07:00

Aphasia affects people in different ways. In my practice as a Speech-Language Pathologist, I have seen various severities of aphasia. These severities range from the individual who cannot say a single word all the way to the person who can communicate his/her thoughts but may stumble on a few wording finding eipisodes.

I recently met a woman who had a stroke a couple of months ago and now suffers from aphasia. From afar, she looks like she has it all together: nice looking, stylish dresser, nice family, great job, lots of friends. She even can converse in small talk with you to where you would never know she had aphasia. She does well to "mask" her aphasia. How? Well, she doesn't initiate any conversations with anyone or include herself in any group activites, and has actually removed herself from activities she previously enjoyed because she does not want anyone to see her limitations. She knows that if you were able to sit with her and really talk with her you would see how much of a struggle it is for her to really carry on a meaningful conversation. It is very frustrating for her. In her mind, she doesn't want anyone to know that she no longer has it all "together".

So, is "masking" her aphasia and avoiding people and situations the right thing to do? In my professional opinion, absolutely not. I understand the pride thing, I really do. However, you should not cut off your friends and stop doing things that make you happy because you are afraid of what people think. You have to continue living your life. Also, from a therapist's point of view, the more interactions and conversations you have with others, the more likely you are to progress in your speaking ability. I know this is easier to say than do, but I definitely believe that the quality of life is more important than the quantity.

What is Expressive Aphasia?

2011-02-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

I spoke with a man last week that had called me to talk about my speech therapy programs for stroke survivors. He told me that he was buying the dvds for a friend who had a stroke about 2 years ago. So, I asked him to describe his friend.

He said, "I don't think he has Aphasia...He is totally with it. He just got his driver's license two weeks ago... He can walk and he takes care of himself... He understands everything you say to him... He just can't say more than a couple of words."
Little did he know but he had just described "expressive aphasia". People think that since their loved one's cognition is intact then he or she is not aphasic. It is important to remember that its not the individual's intelligence that has been affected but instead it is their language skills. Expressive aphasia is merely demonstrated by knowing what you want to say but not being able to get the words out due to the part of the brain affected. So is it possible for a person to drive, take care of themself, and walk independently yet still have aphasia? Absolutely.

Aphasia Recovery takes Time - Progress is Slow

2011-02-14T16:39:00.000-08:00

My apologies. I have not submitted an article since September 2010. I had a baby in October and have been a full time mom for the last 4 months. My time has been busy, but fun. Now, I am back to work.

As I watch my baby develop, I am reminded of how slow progress is. I don't notice change on a daily basis. I realize that my baby is developing, but I cannot tell what progress is made from one day to the next.

Recovery from Aphasia is the same way. Progress takes time.

I think the older we get the more we forget how long it takes us as infants to develop into children and then into adults. A stroke or brain injury robs a person of the vital, basic skills that took so long to develop.

We want the Aphasia to be gone and to be back to 'normal' quickly. In most cases, that goal is next to impossible.

If you or someone you know is recovering from Aphasia, please know that progress takes time and is a great deal easier with lots of love and encouragement.

Engage, Challenge, and Have Fun

2010-09-28T07:00:00.000-07:00

Helping someone with Aphasia can be tiresome. Recovery is hard work. Some days are better than others.

During the recovery process, it is important to continue to challenge your stroke survivor. I have a couple of ideas that might be fun and will require time spent together (or in a group, maybe).

Find a topic (hobby) that your Aphasic person likes. Try to craft a word naming game around that topic while working on something together.

For example, if your loved one likes to cook, cook something together. While preparing the meal, choose an ingredient - like pasta. Put together a list of food dishes that contain pasta - ie. spaghetti, lasagna, manicotti. Or list the different types of pasta - ie. vermicelli, penne, spaghetti. You don't need to write anything down. Keep it casual. Have fun with it.

If your loved one likes cars, go for a drive together. While driving choose a manufacturer - like Ford. Try to name all the Ford models you can see - ie. Taurus, Explorer, F-150 (that is a mouthful). Again, keep it casual and have fun.

You can make bets with each other on who can name the most. The point is to engage with one another and challenge the aphasic while having fun. If you can do that, you will really be doing something.

Don't Park an Aphasic Person in front of the TV 24/7

2010-09-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

I spoke with a person yesterday who wanted to purchase my Aphasia Therapy DVDs. She told me it was for a family member because that person's caregiver parked the person with Aphasia in front of the television all day - everday. They didn't know what else to do.

When you run out of insurance benefits, options for Aphasia therapy get harder to find. You can go to my website http://www.communicationpartner.com/ and find DVDs that help with lower level expressive aphasia. (Pardon the shameful plug for my therapy). But, other options can get expensive.

If you want to try something 'unscientific' and less expensive, I suggest going to your local Knowledge Tree and purchasing some resources. Knowledge Tree is a store filled with resources for school age children. If you have a little imagination, you can find some inexpensive items in the store that might help be of help for someone with aphasia. Of course, you will have to do some work with the aphasic individual.

But, please do not sit a person recovering from Aphasia in front of the television all day. That stroke survivor needs stimulation in the form of conversation and interaction.

Two Great Magazines for Stroke Survivors

2010-09-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

Please forgirve me if I insult your intelligence by stating the obvious, but I want to tell you about two great magazines for Stroke Survivors.

Stroke Smart is a great magazine published by the National Stroke Associaton. The subscription is a free one for United States residents. Simply go to http://www.strokesmart.org/ and click on Subscribe.

Stroke Connection is another great magazine published by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association. Again, the subscription is free. Go to http://www.strokeassociation.org/ and follow the instructions on how to Subscribe.

Both magazines are filled with stroke survivor stories, tips for caregivers, product introductions, etc. I find them to be very informative and helpful to stroke survivors and families.

I hope you find this helpful.

Be Patient - Don't Frustrate the Person with Aphasia

2010-09-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

Last week, I spoke to a woman with an adult son suffering from Aphasia. He had a stroke about a year ago and had been living again with her and his father while continuing his recovery.

The lady told me that her son wanted to move out because he couldn't stand to around her husband anymore. The father frustrates the son on a daily basis by being impatient. He won't let the son talk. He tries (unsuccessfully, apparently) to finish the son's sentences. The son just wants to recover. He doesn't want therapy at home from his dad.

As a therapist, I hear similar stories more than I like. If you want to support a person suffering from Aphasia, Let them talk. I will repeat that, "Let them talk". I know it sometimes takes a long time. To be honest, sometimes it seems like it will take an eternity if you let the person finish a sentence.

Be supportive. Be attentive. Learn to be a good listener. Let them finish. Don't frustrate them by trying to guess what they want to say. Don't finish sentences for them. Relax and listen.

We all want to communicate. We all want to share and be heard. Sometimes, the toughest thing a caregiver can do is Nothing.

Listen more and you will be an even stronger support to your loved one with aphasia.

Resources to Help Find a Support Group close to You

2010-09-19T13:13:00.000-07:00

Many times help is closer than you may think. If you are looking for an Aphasia Support Group and don't know where to find one I have a couple of suggestions.

Go to http://www.aphasia.org/aphasia_community/aphasia_community_groups.html. This link is posted on the National Aphasia Associaton's website. Look for your state and see if a chapter exists close to where you may live.

Another idea is to visit http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=support_groups. This link is for Stroke Support Groups which is different than an Aphasia support group. But you may find these helpful as well.

Local support groups are great. I visit several in my local area throughout the year and they are great for survivors and caregivers. Check them out.

Persistence Pays

2010-09-08T20:13:00.000-07:00

Persistence pays off when it comes to Aphasia Therapy. I know that sounds like such a cliche, but the fact is true.

Tonight, I spoke to a woman who had bought Communication Partner's Level 1 DVDs for her son. She called to order the Level 2 programs. Her son has been watching the video programs everyday for the last 3 months and has seen some real progress in his aphasia recovery.

Quite frankly, I would have a hard time watching those DVDs everyday and I created them. Therapy is hard work and requires persistence and perserverance. This man has seen benefits slowly over the course of time by doing simple (perhaps boring) tasks on a daily basis.

If you or a loved one are trying to recover from Aphasia, be persistent. Progress takes time. If you can encourage someone with aphasia, do it. Therapy is tough. Encouragement always helps.

For more information on Communication Partner's DVDs, go to http://www.communicationpartner.com/. These programs have helped people all over the world.

Maintenance is Required

2010-09-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

In today's disposable society, few people like to talk about maintenance. In a disposable world replacing things is easier than taking the time and spending the money to maintain them.

But some things in life are too important not to maintain.

If you are helping a person recovering from stroke or brain injury you need to realize that maintanence is required and vital to maximize recovery.

What do I mean?

After the chaos has ended and the reality of a different life has become common, holding on to who we are and what we do is important. As part of the recovery process (whether speech, physical or occupational therapies) incorporate things that were important to the person before the stroke.

I suggest bringing in photos, personal items, or other items of significance that can be used during the recovery process and will 'remind' the person of who they were and what they did prior to their current condition.

Maintenance of one's self will be required in order to get back to who and what a person was prior to their life changing event.

These are my thoughts and suggestions. Let me know what you think or if you have any comments.

The Need for Stimulation

2010-09-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I spoke to a woman regarding her mother in law. The family thought that the mother had recovered as much as she could and yet she was still unable to say single words.

The mother in law was no longer receiving any speech therapy, due to insurance limitations. The mother in law was fully aware of what was being said to her, but she could not respond with words - this is expressive aphasia. It seems that most of the family is okay with this situation.

The woman I spoke to wanted to do more for her mother in law, but was confused on what options were available.

There are many options available. My first suggestion was to find an Aphasia Support Group.

Other suggestions would be to find some Aphasia Therapy on video (see my site at http://www.communicationpartner.com/) or on software packages ( see http://www.parrotsoftware.com/ or http://www.bungalowsoftware.com/). Find some photos of family members and practice saying names. Find photos of well known places or things and help practice saying those words.

I think the most important thing is to provide Stimulation. Recovery is not static. Recovery is either moving forward or back, but it never stands still.

Let me know if you have other suggestions.

How long does Recovery Take?

2010-08-31T20:32:00.000-07:00

Last Friday I spoke at a Stroke Survivor's Club meeting. I spoke about aphasia and other speech therapy related topics.

The talk went well and at the end I opened the floor for questions. One of my first questions was from a lady (sitting next to her daughter) who had suffered a stroke 1.5 years ago.

Her question was, "How long does it take to fully recover from a stroke?". I looked at her and her daughter and said you both know the answer. I am sure you have heard it before.

The answer is - Recovery time is different for each individual.

No one and I mean no one can tell you how long recovery will take and to what extent full recovery can be achieved. The second part of that sentence is really important.

I spoke to someone yesterday who told me that a doctor had told them that their mother was too far post stroke to benefit from speech therapy. I disagree.

No one knows to what extent recovery can be made and no one knows how much time is required to achieve a full recovery.

Encourage, Encourage, Encourage

2010-06-24T20:30:00.000-07:00

I spoke to a woman today that is married to a man with Aphasia. She had purchased a set of my aphasia therapy dvd's and wanted to return the dvd's. I have a money back guarantee so I didn't even ask why she was returning, but she volunteered the information.

She said her husband would not watch the video programs. I asked, "Did he not like them?". "No", she said, "he just wouldn't watch them.". It turns out that the husband refused to watch the programs. He had not even watched a minute of one of the dvd's.

We sometimes forget that nobody enjoys doing something they are not good at. Do you like to experience frustrations and failures on a daily basis?

Therapy is not much fun for people with Aphasia. Therapy is hard work and progress comes very slowly. Therapy is small victories in the midst of countless challenges.

If you have a loved one with Aphasia, encourage them daily. Find concrete, noticeable things to complement. Make your encouraging words meaningful. Do everything you can to help them stay motivated to keep making progress.

I encourage you to be an encourager.

www.communicationpartner.com

June is National Aphasia Awareness Month

2010-05-31T07:33:00.001-07:00

June is National Aphasia Awareness Month. The National Aphasia Association has designated June as a time to highlight this language disorder faced by approximately 1 million Americans.

If you have found this article, you are probably very aware of the affects of Aphasia and do not need anyone to highlight this language disorder.

I work with Aphasic persons everyday. I know firsthand that Aphasia affects the communication and not the intellect of the person suffering from Aphasia.

Please help me this month to inform the Amerian public of what Aphasia is and is not.

Please tell people that Aphasia affects about 1 million Americans. Anyone can experience aphasia. Aphasia cannot be prevented. Currently, there is no 'cure' for Aphasia. Speech therapy can help, but the therapy does not gurantee a cure.

Most importantly, tell the public that persons suffering from Aphasia are Okay. Please tell people to allow a little more time to speak to persons with Aphasia.

Ask people to talk to Aphasic persons as much as they can. If this would happen, June would be a happier month for everyone. Happy June!

Kimberly Robbins, MS CCC-SLP,
http://www.communicationpartner.com/

Tips for Communicating with a Person with Aphasia

2010-04-03T12:55:00.001-07:00

When your loved one is finally home again, you may need help in communicating with them. I know you have probably heard this a thousand times, but Aphasia does not affect intellect. Your loved one is the same person. They are just challenged when trying to express themselves.

Here are a few tips that may help you communicate easier:

Minimize distractions as much as possible. Don't try to talk over a blaring television. Don't try to have a conversation in a room full of people when hearing or concentrating may be a challenge.
Encourage any and all types of communication. Whether the communication is speaking, gestures, pointing, grunting, etc., let the person communicate. Be ready to adapt to their needs at the moment.
Be generous with your praise. Let the person know they are doing a good job and that you understand them. Avoid the urge to correct their speech.
Include the Aphasic person in your conversation. If the person has expressive aphasia, they understand every word you speak. Do not ignore them - include them. Let them know you want to communicate.
Allow the individual extra time to talk. An individual with Aphasia may need 2 to 3 times as long to communicate. Give them time. Let them finish.

These are simple techniques, but so easy to forget. Practicing these simple techniques can make a huge difference in the life of a person recovering from Aphasia.

How much Therapy is needed to Recover?

2010-01-21T15:09:00.000-08:00

How much speech therapy is needed to recover from Aphasia? That is the magic question.

Of course, each individual is different and rates of recovery will always vary. But in my experience talking to individuals across the country, few people are getting more than an hour or two of therapy per week. In most cases, that is just not enough therapy.

So, how much is enough?

Some researchers say that an Aphasic person should receive at least 9 hours of therapy per week until 'fully' recovered.
Some researchers propose short bursts of intense therapy such as 3 hours of languagne training per day for 10 day sessions. In short, no conclusive answer exists.

Aphasia survivors and caregivers need to realize a couple of realities. These cold realities can be hard to accept.

First, progress can and does happen after the first six months. No matter what anyone may tell you, progress can be made even years after a stroke or brain injury.

Secondly, progress depends on you. Healthcare providers can only assist and encourage you. They are not responsible for recovery. You are.

I still haven't answered the title question. I know each of us wants a concrete answer. But, I would say that you need enough therapy to get you back to a level of functionality that enables you to enjoy life.

Preventing another Stroke

2009-08-08T15:36:00.000-07:00

Did you know that if you have had a stroke, your chances of suffering a second stroke are greatly increased? Most survivors have been made aware of this increased risk during the recovery process. Actually, your likelihood of experiencing another stroke is 9 times greater than the average person's risk.

Having said all of that, I recently read an alarming report. The report said that about 30% of stroke survivors are not taking necessary actions to prevent another stroke. They are basically living the same way they lived prior to their stroke.

Are you kidding me?

If I know my risk is greater and I know ways to possibly prevent another stroke, why not do it? As you know stroke is a life changer.

Just in case you don't know the ways you can live to prevent another stroke, here they are:

Control your blood pressure. Monitor it and take steps to control it.
Quit smoking.
Reduce sodium (salt) in your diet. Check food packages for sodium content.
Start exercising. Walk, run, swim, get moving.
Keep your alcohol intake to a minimum.
Eat a low fat, low cholestrol diet. You may need to get educated on how to do this, but do it.

There are more ways that will help prevent another stroke, but these are the big ones.

Again, you may want to check out http://www.stroke.org/ or http://www.strokesmart.org/ for more ideas. These are two great magazines that can help.

Aphasia Isolates People

2009-08-06T04:59:00.000-07:00

According to a 2004 survey conducted by the National Aphasia Association (http://www.aphasia.org/), people with Aphasia feel isolated and therefore isolate themselves from others.

The survey respondents said the following:

95% said people with Aphasia tend to feel isolated because of their Aphasia
97% said people tend to avoid people with Aphasia all or some of the time
40% of people with Aphasia had no contact with others with Aphasia

If any of the above statements describe you or your loved one suffering from Aphasia, please realize that you are not alone.

The last statement regarding the 40% of people with Aphasia that have no contact with others suffering from Aphasia is most troubling to me. If you are a caregiver to someone with Aphasia, please, please try to get them to an Aphasia support group. If you live in a metro area, you can probably find a group. If you live in a less populated area, look online.

Go to the National Aphasia Association website (http://www.aphasia.org/) to find someone in your area to help.

Your goal as caregiver should be to re-integrate your loved one into our communication-filled society.

You will probably need to take 'baby steps', but you must take steps. As you know, trying new things can be awkward, intimidating, and stressful, but this process is vitally important to the recovery process of your loved one.

I wish you the very best in your efforts!

Visit my website, http://www.communicationpartner.com/, if you need more aphasia therapy for expressive aphasia. We produce aphasia therapy on DVDs for effective, easy to use therapy solutions.

Understanding People with Aphasia

2009-08-06T04:37:00.000-07:00

Often times, Aphasia has a devastating effect on the sufferer and their family. Aphasia can turn an outgoing, gregarious person into an introverted wallflower.

I recently had the privilege to give speech therapy to a wonderful older lady suffering from Expressive Aphasia. Prior to her stroke and subsequent aphasia, she was very involved in her church. Her daughter spoke of her mother's involvement and the daughter would encourage her mother with the promise of future involvement with the church group.

My patient, the mother, told me repeatedly that she did not want to go back to church. "No one will understand me." "Everybody will be uncomfortable trying to talk to me." This woman had been attending this church for over 30 years. My heart broke for her. I set a personal goal that she was going back to church - at least once.

After several months of therapy, she did return to her church. To her surprise and delight, everyone was thrilled to see her. People made her feel comfortable. Her friends talked to her with no awkwardness. Everyone was so accepting. Hallelujah!

After her initial visit to church, I noticed a change in her attitude - a change in her demeanor. She had more confidence. She was motivated to do more.

Why do I tell you this story?

If you have a loved one suffering from Expressive Aphasia, they probably do not want to go back into a social setting any time soon. I strongly encourage you to softly and consistently encourage them to go somewhere that requires social interaction. At the same time, I encourage you to try and set up a very 'friendly' initial social setting that will insure success (ie. feeling good about communicating again) for your aphasia sufferer.

I wish you the Best!

If you need more Aphasia Therapy for Expressive Aphasia, go to my website www.communicationpartner.com. We produce aphasia therapy on DVDs that can be used independently at home or in conjunction with your speech therapist.

Communication Tips for Caregivers of People with Aphasia

2009-08-02T05:13:00.000-07:00

Many people ask me , "What can I do at home to help?". I am listing a few admittedly basic, but sometimes overlooked suggestions on how to communicate with your loved one.

Sometimes it is hard to remember that Aphasia does not affect a person's intellect. People suffering from Expressive Aphasia know what is going on around them. They realize that people are whispering in front of them or speaking loudly or using baby talk. They understand perfectly, they just cannot make the words come out of their mouths.

Here are a few tips:

1. Refer to the paragraph above and realize that Expressive Aphasia is a communication disorder and not a cognitive impairment. This should always dictate how you respond to your loved one.
2. Be a loving partner. You are not a therapist, so don't be their therapist. Be an encouragement. Be a supporter. Partner with them in the process.
3. At least once a day sit down and have a pleasant conversation with your loved one. Spend at least 15 minutes talking about whatever comes up. This is GREAT practice for a person with Aphasia. The more time you can converse back and forth - the better.

I have a lot more suggestions I will save for another day.

If you have any ideas or tips, please feel free to comment. The purpose of this blog is to foster interaction among readers and hopefully provide an amount of support for people with Aphasia and their caregivers.

If you need more Aphasia Therapy for Expressive Aphasia, go to my website www.communicationpartner.com. We produce aphasia therapy on DVDs that can be used independently at home or in conjunction with a speech therapist.

The Most Important Ingredients for Recovery

2009-08-01T05:59:00.000-07:00

Last night I saw a former patient of mine. I was at a restaurant with my husband when an attractive young man made his way to my table. At first I did not recognize him. Then, I realized that in 2003, I had helped in his recovery. What a difference 6 years has made in his life. He showed no signs of his past struggles.
In 2003 I first met him in an acute care facility. He had suffered a tramautic brain injury and had a myriad of problems. He was in a veiled bed when I first met him. Basically, that is a bed enclosed by a net so the person cannot get out of bed and harm themselves.
During the course of the next several months he was at our facility he made a lot of progress. I actually fed him his first meal (pureed food) after his accident. When he left our facility he still had lots of work to do. Honestly, I felt he would never be the same. When he left our medical center he could barely hold his head up, but his time was "up".
Last night, he was at the restaurant with his mother. They told me of the struggles of the past 6 years and his courageous efforts to continue to make progress. He told me the key ingredients to his recovery.
1. Family Support. Without the constant encouragement, love and support of his family, he would not have continued to do all of the hard, "boring" therapies.
2. Belief he would get better. This ingredient goes hand in hand with the first one. His family sincerely believed that he would get better. They never gave up! They told me of the various facilities and home health care agents they had experienced through the years. They always were looking for solutions.
If you have a loved one that is recovering from a stroke or brain injury, please understand that the role you play is a very vital one.
If you need more Aphasia Therapy for Expressive Aphasia, go to my website www.communicationpartner.com. We produce Aphasia Therapy on DVDs that can be used at home independently or in conjunction with a speech therapist.

Need More Information and More Therapy

2009-07-31T09:13:00.000-07:00

I spoke to a man whose mother is suffering from Aphasia and he and his family are very frustrated. Sound familiar?
Nobody is ever prepared for a stroke or brain injury and the destruction they leave behind. I hear stories each week with a similar theme.
The survivor is being released from medical care, but they have not yet fully recovered. The family looks for solid answers for therapy (both physical and cognitive), but those solutions are hard to find.
The cold hard truth to you - the family and survivor - is that recovery is your responsibility. You and you alone determine how far to go in therapy efforts. The sooner you can realize and internalize that reality, the better you will be.
Health care providers can only do so much. In today's environment, health care is often constrained and limited by a myriad of reasons and regulations.
Recovery from a stroke or cognitive impairment is hard work! Therapy usually takes a long time and it does not and should not stop when you are released from full time or out-patient care.
Don't give up. Keep Looking for answers. Answers will come slowly just like the recovery progress.

2009-06-09T17:41:00.000-07:00

I actually had a patient today that I saw who had a stroke less than a month ago and is now receiving outpatient speech therapy. She has aphasia but is able to get some words out, just enough for the listener to get the idea of what she is trying to say (most of the time). As many people affected with aphasia, she was completely independent before this stroke. She is still independent for the most part, but just can't communicate. It is obvious to me as her therapist that there is some depression present. Of course, who can blame her? I told her about the Stroke Support Group that meets at our facility once a month, thinking it would be a wonderful outlet for her, to meet other people who are in her shoes. After telling her about it, it was apparent to me she was not interested. What I gathered from our limited conversation was that she would be uncomfortable in a setting like that. Unable to communicate and around a bunch of strangers, I do understand her point. However, I want to emphasize how wonderfully these groups are put together. She may not think it would be something she would benefit from, but I feel confident that if she would try, she would think differently. I write this to encourage everyone who has suffered from a stroke or head injury OR who has a loved one who has (these groups are for caregivers too!), give your local support group a try. You might be surprised what you will find.

2009-05-06T15:21:00.000-07:00

Did you know that there are two magazine publications that focus on stroke and the issues with life after suffering a stroke that are FREE? All you have to do is subscribe. "Stroke Connection" is published by the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association. You can subscribe by going to the website www.strokeassociation.org. The second, "Stroke Smart", is published by the National Stroke Association. Their website is www.strokesmart.org. Both are wonderful magazines with many tips and articles, many written by survivors of stroke or their caregivers. They are both definitely worth subscribing to.

2009-04-21T15:24:00.000-07:00

Like I said in my profile, I have developed speech therapy DVDs for individuals who have been affected with aphasia. Since I began this company, I cannot tell you how many phone calls I have received from family members calling not only to find out more about our products but mostly just to have someone to talk to. What should have been a 5 minute conversation often turns into a 45 minute conversation. Who can blame them? Their lives have been completely turned upside down due to someone close to them (parent, spouse, child, etc) suffering a stroke or other brain injury. Their loved one, who they used to share intimate conversations with, can no longer communicate effectively (not to mention all the new physical limitations that come with it too). No one can prepare for this. There is no class that teaches you, "What to do in case of your loved one suffering a stroke". Who can they reach out to that can give them some answers? Where do they go from here? There is so much desperation in their voices, which is why I created this blog. I welcome your questions, stories, experiences and any advice you would like to pass along to others. Hopefully, something said can be of help to others.