The Saturday Aphasia Group, March 31, 2007, has been canceled for a number of reasons. We will re-schedule the group as soon as possible.

Share The Care

A FREE FULL DAY TRAINING FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
THE SHARE THE CARE - A MODEL FOR GROUP CAREGIVING
(Made possible by funding from the Balm Foundation)

Saturday, March 31, 2007
8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

St. Vincent's Hospital - The Smith Building - Cafeteria
Main Entrance - Blue Awning
(West 12th Street between 6-7th Avenues)

8:30-9:00 AM Registration
9:00 AM Training begins promptly

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FLYER ABOUT THIS EVENT
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE SCHEDULE FOR THE DAY

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As of March 23rd, 6:25 pm there are only 3 spots available. When these are gone signing up will place you on a waiting list. You will be notified of your 'wait list' status via a separate email. (Thank you to those who have let us know they cannot attend.)

comedy central: Bob Woodruff

ABC NEWS

It was many weeks before ABC’s Bob Woodruff realized how lucky he was to survive a roadside bomb explosion in Iraq in January 2006. It took months for him to understand how lucky he was to recover as fully as he did.

Few do. And that is one of the more sobering lessons of “To Iraq and Back,” Mr. Woodruff’s account of his ordeal on ABC tonight. Many veterans with similar traumatic brain injuries may never fully regain their ability to speak, walk or pick up a glass of water.

“I’ve seen probably less than five that have actually been able to walk back into the I.C.U. and thank us for what we did,” Alison Bischoff, one of the nurses who treated Mr. Woodruff at the Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland, says in this documentary. “So, to me, he’s a miracle.”

Mr. Woodruff, who makes a point of saying he was privileged to receive the “best civilian and military care in the world,” wants viewers to know that veterans with traumatic brain injuries who rely solely on Veterans Affairs medical centers do not always receive the same quality of care.

“To Iraq and Back” is remarkably compelling, mostly because the documentary, while moving, is not just a heart-wrenching portrait of one man’s courageous struggle. Mr. Woodruff and his wife, Lee, have published a book about their experience, “In an Instant: A Family’s Journey of Love and Healing,” and will soon be telling their inspiring tale to Diane Sawyer, Oprah Winfrey and others.

National Stroke Association and NBC present Brain Attack: A Stroke Survival Guide

National Stroke Association and NBC present Brain Attack: A Stroke Survival Guide

Dear Friends:

National Stroke Association and NBC have partnered in the fight against stroke and are thrilled to announce an upcoming television special: Brain Attack: A Stroke Survival Guide.

This one-hour show will educate the public about stroke risk, stroke symptom recognition (F.A.S.T.) and recent breakthroughs in rehabilitation. The show will feature real-life stories from stroke survivors, including celebrities, as well as encourage viewer participation with an interactive Stroke Smart quiz.

Brain Attack: A Stroke Survival Guide will air on NBC network stations around the country starting April 14^th (see current schedule below). This is a unique opportunity for stroke awareness and we are asking for your help to get the show aired and viewed in as many cities across the nation as possible. There are a number of ways to get involved:

Create a buzz! Call the general manager at your local NBC station today and tell them how important Brain Attack: A Stroke Survival Guide would be for your community. And then encourage your friends and family to do the same.

o Host a Super Stroke Smart party! Invite your friends, families and fellow stroke survivors to watch the show together in a fun atmosphere at your local hospital, community center, church, etc. Visit National Stroke Association's website over the next few weeks for party ideas.

o Play Along! The show will feature an interactive quiz. Create a fun competition amongst friends or coworkers and have small prizes available for the top Stroke Smart winners.

Again, this show is an incredible opportunity and we thank you for your continued support. Please contact us with any questions you may have about the show and/or how to help increase stroke awareness.

Traumatic brain injury (Bob Woodruff)

Language and communication problems are common disabilities in TBI patients. Some may experience aphasia, defined as difficulty with understanding and producing spoken and written language; others may have difficulty with the more subtle aspects of communication, such as body language and emotional, non-verbal signals.

In non-fluent aphasia, also called Broca's aphasia or motor aphasia, TBI patients often have trouble recalling words and speaking in complete sentences. They may speak in broken phrases and pause frequently. Most patients are aware of these deficits and may become extremely frustrated.

Patients with fluent aphasia, also called Wernicke's aphasia or sensory aphasia, display little meaning in their speech, even though they speak in complete sentences and use correct grammar. Instead, they speak in flowing gibberish, drawing out their sentences with non-essential and invented words. Many patients with fluent aphasia are unaware that they make little sense and become angry with others for not understanding them. Patients with global aphasia have extensive damage to the portions of the brain responsible for language and often suffer severe communication disabilities.

TBI patients may have problems with spoken language if the part of the brain that controls speech muscles is damaged. In this disorder, called dysarthria, the patient can think of the appropriate language, but cannot easily speak the words because they are unable to use the muscles needed to form the words and produce the sounds. Speech is often slow, slurred, and garbled. Some may have problems with intonation or inflection, called prosodic dysfunction.