What is Aphasia?

Information in this presentation is taken from Australian Aphasia Association website | www.aphasia.org.au

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Aphasia is an acquired language disorder

People with aphasia may find it hard to:

– talk

– listen (understand what others say)

– read

– write

– use numbers

Aphasia: Definition

***BUT!! They are still intelligent.

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1) Aphasia affects every person differently. Some people have only mild difficulties, others have very severe communication problems.

2) People with aphasia are competent and intelligent.

3) People with aphasia still have thoughts, opinions and emotions.

Aphasia: Important points!

4) People with aphasia can still solve problems.

5) People with aphasia can still hear and see.

6) People with aphasia can still make decisions.

7) People with aphasia often know what they want to say, but have difficulties getting their messages out

Aphasia: Important points!

Aphasia: Causes

• Aphasia is caused by stroke or other damage to the language centres of the brain.

• Head injury, tumours, or infections and inflammation in the brain may be other causes.

Aphasia: Statistics

33% of people who have had a stroke

have aphasia (Bradley et al, 2012)

It is estimated that 80,000 people in

Australia have aphasia (SPA, 2010)

US based National Aphasia Association has calculated prevalence of aphasia to be

equivalent to the combined prevalence of Parkinson’s disease, Cerebral Palsy and

Muscular Dystrophy.(CCRE, 2014).

Aphasia: Assessment

• Speech pathologists will complete assessments with people with aphasia to determine what areas may require therapy.

• Language assessments may look at: listening and remembering information, naming objects, reading, writing or general conversation.

• For some people, not all language competencies will be impaired.

Aphasia: Treatment

• Speech pathologists may be able to support people with aphasia through speech therapy sessions.

• The speech pathologist and patient will work together to come up with goals for therapy.

• Therapy will likely focus on the areas of difficulty identified in the assessment. This will be different for each individual.

• Therapy could be impairment based (targeted at re-learning skills that were lost) or functional (helping person with aphasia to cope with lost skills and still manage everyday life).

• Therapy could be individual or group based.

Aphasia: Strategies

Strategies to help people with aphasia to communicate and participate in everyday

life:

• Remember to treat people with aphasia as the intelligent adults they are.

• Give people with aphasia lots of time to speak and to understand what has

been said.

• Use plain English.

• Avoid speaking too fast. Use a normal to slow speed of talking.

• Accept when people with aphasia use different ways of communicating other

than speech such as gestures, writing or drawing.

• Maintain a sense of humour

Aphasia: Strategies

The following strategies may also help:

• Ask questions that can be answered with a YES or NO (however, be aware that sometimes people

with aphasia confuse these responses).

• Talk in short, clear sentences.

• Don't patronise.

• Reduce background noise and distractions.

• Allow the person with aphasia to speak for himself/herself.

• Include the person with aphasia in conversation. Talk to the person with aphasia, NOT their

companion.

• Don't correct mistakes made by the person with aphasia.

• When needed, check you have understood each other.

• Use gestures, writing or drawing.

More Information

• Speech Pathology Australia FACTSHEET:http://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/library/2013Factsheets/Factsheet_Communication_Difficulties_Following_Stroke.pdf

• Australian Aphasia Association:http://www.aphasia.org.au/

• Centre for Clinical Research Excellence (CCRE) in Aphasia Rehabilitation:http://www.ccreaphasia.org.au/

More support

If aphasia has affected you, or someone you know, please contact

a speech pathologist to receive support specific for the person’s

individual needs.

You can use the ‘Find a Speech Pathologist’ function on the

Speech Pathology Australia website, to find a

Speech Pathologist in your area.