Aphasia In-Service Training

A few weeks ago I put together some materials for an in-service training on aphasia. I wanted to share it for those who are looking for an in-service to perform, or for those who would like to learn a little more about it.

Understanding and Working with Aphasia

Presented By: Justin Zarb

Aphasia: Quick Fact Sheet

Who Gets Aphasia and What Causes It?

• By far the most common cause of aphasia is stroke. However, any disease or injury that damages brain tissue can cause aphasia (head injury, aneurysm, brain tumors). It is estimated that about 20% of individuals who suffer a stroke will also incur a serious loss of speech and language.

What is Aphasia?

• Aphasia is a total or partial loss of the ability to communicate whether through listening and understanding, speaking, gesturing, reading, or writing.

When Does Aphasia Onset? When Does Aphasia Get Treated?

• Within hours of recovering from a stroke, aphasia will usually become evident if there has been sufficient brain damage. Sometimes the aphasia will be hard to detect if it is a non-oral form such as reading, writing, or gesturing. A trained speech pathologist should perform an evaluation for the stroke victim.
• Treatment for aphasia can begin immediately with speech therapy. If therapy is available, almost all aphasic patients will improve their use of language. Some individuals who are very impaired in the first few days can go on to a full (of almost full) recovery within a few months. Typically, therapy only produces results within the first 12 months after the onset of aphasia.

Where In the Brain Does the Damage Occur?......next.....