Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Brain injury inspiration!


The first time I met Michael Rost I was sitting on the sidewalk at the Sprinter Station waiting rather impatiently for the train to the beach. I saw him walking towards me for what seemed like several minutes before he was close enough to give what I now consider a characteristic Mike greeting. I remember reacting hesitantly to his statement that we should “hang out sometime,” but luckily hesitancy gave way to uncertain acquiescence. Over time my acquiescence has given way to a hesitant enthusiasm. For Mike though, “everything is possible!”

Ten years ago Michael Rost was in a car crash causing him to endure the consequences of a traumatic brain injury. In a coma for a month, he had to relearn even the most basic of everyday movements. Now, his speech is slowed, his balance is off, his walking is labored and his hands shake, but despite these difficulties, Michael Rost has asked himself, “Self, what can you still do that is crazy and extreme?” Next....

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Group offers fellowship, support for stroke survivors, caregivers


Mark Ginder has been attending Frederick County Stroke Club meetings since 1992. That's the year his wife, Azalea, had a stroke.

The social and support group has been meeting the last Monday of the month for 35 years at Good..Next...

What is Aphasia? | The Aphasia Institute


Aphasia is an acquired disorder caused by an injury to the brain and affects a person’s ability to communicate. It is most often the result of stroke or head injury.
An individual with aphasia may experience difficulty expressing themselves when speaking, difficulty understanding the speech of others, and difficulty reading and writing. Sadly, aphasia can mask a person's intelligence and ability to communicate feelings, thoughts and emotions....More...

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Aphasia Forum (Italy)

aphasia
http://www.afasia.it/

When your brain does not allow you to use the words

to tell someone that you love him, to lie,

To order a caffe ', to tell a joke,

to insult, to betray, to make a compliment

to thank, to confess, to invite,

To hear a lie, to sign a contract,

making phone calls in America, to read a bill,

to apologize, to refuse an invitation,

ask for help when you're lost

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Aphasia Project Intervention, research and social support (Italy)



http://www.afasiatorino.it/

A global project to improve the quality of life
aphasic patients and acquired brain
A project gdal May 2000 the Foundation Pier Carlo study and implement interventions designed to improve the quality of life of patients with acquired cognitive deficits, especially aphasia, through a project of continuity of care, which is a structured way at different times which connects l 'Axis clinical / rehabilitation with the social. To this end there is a collaboration with the Service for Adults Logopedics ASL 1, with L 'Informahandicap ASL 1, under the District Social Services and with different groups of the Turin area and Liguria.

The experience in the field and to meet the complex and diverse reality of the aphasic person, has changed the initial plan of action and research in a network of collaborations on specific territory, and has stimulated the creation of a center - the CIRP - from which are made several interventions aimed at improving the quality of life of aphasia and his family.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

How to help a friend with aphasia

gracie1402 Member
By Amy Kuncaitis
User-Submitted Article
Article Rating: (13 Ratings)

Aphasia, is a loss of the ability to produce and/or comprehend language, due to injury to brain areas specialized for these functions, Broca's area, which governs language production, or Wernicke's area, which governs the interpretation of language. It is not a result of deficits in sensory, intellect, or psychiatric functioning, nor due to muscle weakness or a cognitive disorder.

Depending on the area and extent of the damage, someone suffering from aphasia may be able to speak but not write, or vice versa, or display any of a wide variety of other deficiencies in language comprehension and production, such as being able to sing but not speak. Aphasia may co-occur with speech disorders such as dysarthria or apraxia of speech, which also result from brain damage


Aphasia can come in many different forms. Aphasia may occur in persons of any age, sex, race, or nationality. Vocation and education are not determining factors.

Here are some practical tips to help you communicate with someone who love who may be experiencing expressive aphasia or any other form.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2280546_help-friend-aphasia.html

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Commitment evident at Aphasia Camp

Posted By CAROL STEEDMAN
Posted 15 days ago


My June 12, 2004, and June 12, 2006, columns were about aphasia, a condition shared by about 40,000 Ontarians.

Aphasia is a language impairment that results from a blockage or bleed in the blood flow on the left side of the brain. More commonly known as a stroke or aneurysm, this damage is a brain attack, in the same way a person can suffer a heart attack. Depending on the location and extent of injury, the loss of language affects each person differently. The ability to talk, read, write and comprehend conversation can be impaired. This doesn't mean that the person's intellect is affected. The person can think and knows what he wants to communicate, but must find an alternate way to express his thoughts.

My husband, Steve Goff, had a stroke 15 years ago in March, at the age of 48. It changed his life immensely. He was unable to read, write, speak, or move his right arm and leg. The physical impairment cleared quickly, but he remained unable to speak many words. He had speech therapy in Kingston, where he was living at the time. Now he speaks a few words, but mainly uses writing and gestures to communicate.

I happen to be able to read in reverse, as a mirror image, so Steve writes words in the air, and I'm usually able to catch his meaning. I'm sure it amuses or captivates people who happen to see us in a discussion in a store or restaurant. ....NEXT....

Monday, September 21, 2009

Australian Aphasia Ass.

AAA logo


What is Aphasia? (ay-faze-yuh)

Aphasia is a language difficulty caused by damage to the brain.

People with aphasia/dysphasia have difficulty with:


  • talking talking
  • listening listening
  • reading reading
  • writing writing
  • numbers numbers






  • Contact the Australian Aphasia Association Inc.

    We would love to hear your comments or questions.

    Contact us at:

    post

    PO Box 6104, St Lucia Qld 4067

    phone

    Phone: 0439 755 052

    email

    Email: questions@aphasia.org.au



    Friday, July 17, 2009

    Family finds hope while watching Aphasia Center grow

    by Kathleen Thurber
    Midland Reporter-Telegram
    Published: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 1:15 AM CDT
    As their 6-year-old granddaughter traipsed back to the Aphasia Center of West Texas' conference room with a cartoon of milk and handful of Cheetos one recent afternoon, Ronnie Davis laughed slightly and said the center has become their family's second home.

    "Everyone spoils her here," she said, smiling as she opened a scrapbook in front of her husband Gary, who's been a member at the Aphasia Center since its beginning at Trinity Towers in 2002. Next...

    Read more: http://www.mywesttexas.com

    Monday, April 13, 2009

    Come Home Dad

    On February 22nd at roughly 2AM, my father woke up with a start and asked my Mother for help. He was experiencing a traumatic stroke that would change things for all of us.


    He wants to go home.

    ...

    Officially, there are 5 stages of grief as it relates to a significant loss in your life:

    Denial and Isolation
    Anger
    Bargaining
    Depression
    Acceptance

    ...

    I'm no expert on anything emotional. The running joke around my house is "my husband with the cold dead black heart." So, I'm obviously at a loss to fully explain Dad's feelings or where he's at emotionally. It's clear that Dad is working through his loss at this time.

    There is a paper on the wall that talks about patients with aphasia and how to interact with them. I don't remember everything on the list, but it all seemed fairly common sense:

    Talk directly to them.
    Loss of speech isn't a loss of intelligence.
    Loss of speech isn't always an inability to understand.
    Ask them questions that can be answered with a "yes" or "no."

    I think I've heard the term before, but tonight was the first time I've seen "aphasia" applied to Dad. Next...................