September, 2010
The Public Awareness of Aphasia Around the World
by Chris Code on September 29, 2010
Improving understanding of the public awareness of aphasia in different cultures and communities is particularly relevant to efforts to improve and extend services, to increase research support and to encourage improved social inclusion of aphasic people.
There is a relationship between the services that are provided for a condition, the research funds invested in that condition, and the level of public awareness of that condition.
For instance, there is a much lower frequency of occurrence of the word ‘aphasia’ in US newspapers compared to other comparable conditions, like Parkinson’s disease, despite the fact that aphasia occurs more often (Elman et al., 2000).
Frequency of occurrence of a condition in the media is related to the levels of public knowledge and the funding of services for that condition. Continue reading the full article
Aphasia the Movie
by Ognjen Todic on September 22, 2010
Aphasia Movie Poster
Back in June I had an amazing opportunity to attend a showing of the Aphasia movie in Raleigh, NC. I highly recommend this movie to anyone whose life has been affected by aphasia.
The Aphasia movie has its own website and a Facebook page. Below we are sharing a short synopsis of the movie from its website, and three video clips.
“Aphasia” is the true story of actor Carl McIntyre who, after suffering a massive stroke and losing his ability to read, write and talk, struggles against overwhelming odds to redefine his life. Continue reading the full article
He’s a Traveling Man
by Eileen Erickson on September 15, 2010
Those What Ifs
Paul Benson at Tucson B & B 2006
The suitcases were lined up by the front door, car service ordered for 8 am the next morning, two round trip tickets to Tucson AZ were in my purse. Everything was set for our two-week vacation. So why did I feel so unsettled? Was it because this was the first major trip for my husband Paul since his stroke 14 months earlier? Yep, that was it. Continue reading the full article
Why Personalized Treatment Matters
by Jacqueline Hinckley on September 8, 2010
“How can the SLP/rehab facilities gear or personalize therapy and rehabilitation towards the person with aphasia’s prior interests/hobbies/vocations?”
“How can the SLPs engage the person with aphasia, not just do rote exercises but rather connect with the aphasic as a personality, tailor the therapy to the individual needs?”
“What is the effect on the person with aphasia if they do not like their SLP or the SLP doesn’t understand the patient’s needs or doesn’t customize the therapy towards them?”
These are questions raised by the members of an aphasia support group. And they are on to something. It is important for therapists to gear activities toward the person’s interests. Here are some reasons why it is important.
Ten Things You Should Know About People With Aphasia
by SCALE Ambassadors on September 1, 2010
One million individuals are living with aphasia in this country today. Yet, most people have never even heard of the word. If people have heard of aphasia, they often to do not know what it really means. As members of the Aphasia Advocacy Class at SCALE, we want to be Ambassadors for ALL people with aphasia.
SCALE Ambassadors
We hope to educate those who are new to living with aphasia and their families, as well as the community at large. We want to get rid of the common misconceptions about aphasia that we have personally experienced. We want to let you know what we can do, how we want to be treated, and how we feel. We want to tell you that our lives are more than just about aphasia. We want to empower others to live well with aphasia and participate in their lives to their fullest. Here are 10 things our class agreed that everyone should know about people with aphasia. Continue reading the full article