The Voices of MossRehab Aphasia Center (VOMAC) is proud to present a screening of the award-winning film, Aphasia, on Friday, November 19th, 2010 in Philadelphia, PA. The screening will be from 4:00pm – 6:00pm at MossRehab at Tabor Road, Braemer Building, Gouley Auditorium, 5501 Old York Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19141. The cost is $15, which includes admission and a pre-screening reception. Seating is LIMITED, and MUST be paid for in advance. Please call Mary Detwiler at (215) 663-6344 to reserve your seat today.

Aphasia was written by Jim Gloster, a Charlotte, NC director, actor and writer. Gloster wanted to capture the story of his friend, actor Carl McIntyre who suffered a massive stroke in 2005 at just 44 years of age. As a result, McIntyre lives with aphasia, an acquired communication disorder that impairs a person’s ability to process language but does not affect intelligence.

Aphasia is a double dose of reality told in narrative form. Carl stars as himself and portrays his life story in a powerful and nuanced performance. Aphasia uses comedy and pathos to raise awareness about aphasia and provide hope and inspiration to anyone working to overcome obstacles in their lives. The film recounts McIntyre’s first person experience during the stroke, his recovery and his struggle with his inability to communicate.

For more information about the movie, visit aphasiathemovie.

Lingraphica adds 5 new apps to its SmallTalk family on the Apple App store

Princeton, New Jersey (September 28, 2010). Lingraphica, maker of the Lingraphica® speech-generating device for aphasia, announces the release of its five newest SmallTalk apps on the Apple App store at an introductory price of $0.99 each.

Designed for people with apraxia or autism, the new apps provide speech-exercise videos illustrating the tongue and lip movements required for different speech activities:

• SmallTalk Phonemes: Single phonemes;
• SmallTalk Consonant Blends: Single consonant blends;
• SmallTalk Common Phrases: Commonly used short phrases using everyday vocabulary;
• SmallTalk Days, Months, Dates: Words or phrases comprising a single concept related to time;
• SmallTalk Colors, Numbers, Letters: Single colors, numbers, and letters.

Each of these apps offer individual videos that allow users to focus on the sounds, words, and phrases most important to them. Other Lingraphica apps available on the Apple App store are SmallTalk Aphasia, SmallTalk Dysphagia, and SmallTalk Oral Motor Exercises.

Lois Jean Brady, speech-language pathologist at Pro-Active Speech in California, uses the SmallTalk apps successfully with autistic children. She observed, “I have recently had the opportunity to use SmallTalk apps, from Lingraphica, with my students on the spectrum (with and without apraxia). I was amazed at how ideal these apps are for students with autism. They are the perfect visual tool. Students with autism will imitate behaviors from a video more easily than from face-to-face instruction. Video modeling also gives the students the freedom to watch over and over again until the skill is mastered, leading to the acquisition of complex verbal skills. I would recommend the SmallTalk apps to anyone working with students on the spectrum.”

Lingraphica’s chief executive officer Andrew Gomory is excited to be offering a robust set of SmallTalk apps for use on the iPod touch, iPad, and iPhone. He said, “Together, the Lingraphica speech-generating device and the SmallTalk family of apps provide a comprehensive and portable system for stroke survivors.”

Lingraphica-The Aphasia Company™ is the leading provider of speech-generating devices for people whose ability to speak or understand words has been impaired by a stroke or brain injury. With the Lingraphica they can communicate with picture icons that speak words and phrases in a natural human voice, or they can practice speech using videos and language exercises. The Lingraphica is Medicare reimbursable. It is available for a no-obligation trial. For more information call 888-APHASIA (888-274-2742) or visit www.lingraphica.com

An article posted in Advance Magazine, September 20, 2010 edition, Vol. 20 • Issue 19 • Page 13

Researchers have developed a method to predict post-stroke recovery of language by measuring the initial severity of impairment. Being able to predict recovery has important implications for stroke survivors and their families as they plan for short- and long-term treatment needs.1

“These results indicate that if we know the extent of the initial impairment following stroke, we can predict with remarkable accuracy how patients will function 90 days later,” said Ronald Lazar, PhD, of New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center. “We have established the first reliable metric of the current standard care for post-stroke language treatment and a standard against which future treatments can be compared.”

More than 1 million Americans have aphasia, and stroke is the most common cause, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. For many years it was thought that the combination of stroke size, patient age and education, and specific characteristics of language deficit were predictive of recovery, but no reliable metric had been established.

The recent study involved patients in the Performance and Recovery in Stroke (PARIS) database, which is based at the Neurological Institute of Columbia University Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian/Columbia.

Researchers used the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) to assess language function at 24 to 72 hours after stroke onset and then again at 90 days. Among patients with mild to moderate aphasia after acute stroke, recovery improved to about 70 percent of their maximum potential recovery as long as they received some aphasia therapy. Recovery was defined as the change in WAB score between baseline and 90 days. This study was funded by the National Institutes of Health. Read, email or print this article by clicking Here .

Paul Berger shares:

I understand numbers and can read them, but it is hard for me “catch” them when spoken. For example, if you tell me your phone number, I may only get half the numbers. But if you write it down, I will be able to call you. My speech therapists explain that this is part of my stroke-related aphasia, a problem with processing the words.

Before my stroke, I never realized how much our daily conversation uses numbers, numbers, numbers! The cost of things, the weather forecast, the time of an appointment, the date to meet for lunch, and the score and plays in a baseball or football game.

I try to practice every day to improve my ability to catch numbers:

* I listen to the weather forecast and the stock market numbers (the Dow Jones) on the radio in the
car. I try to remember the numbers. Then when I return, I check the numbers on the computer or TV.

* When I’m watching TV with Stephanie, and I hear numbers, I’ll write them down and ask her if I’m
correct.

* Recently, I was in a local government office where you take a number and wait your turn. The
number board was not working, so I asked the person sitting next to me to help me listen for my
number. I was anxious while I waited, and happy that I heard my number correctly when they called it.

Many stroke and aphasia groups play “Bingo” — also a good way to practice listening for numbers.

If I can do it, you can do it too!

Other insights and tips for coping with life and taking control of your recovery after stroke are available on my website Stroke Survivor .

ScienceDaily (Sep. 13, 2010) — Stroke patients who were left partially paralysed found that their condition improved after they received a simple and non-invasive method of brain stimulation, according to research in the September issue of the European Journal of NeurologyScienceDaily (Sep. 13, 2010) — Stroke patients who were left partially paralysed found that their condition improved after they received a simple and non-invasive method of brain stimulation, according to research in the September issue of the European Journal of Neurology

Researchers from the Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt, studied 60 patients with ischaemic stroke — where the blood supply is reduced to the brain — who had been left with mild to moderate muscle weakness down one side of their body.

Twenty of the randomly assigned treatment group received repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) applied at 5-Hz over the brain hemisphere affected by the stroke and the other 20 received 1-Hz stimulation of the unaffected hemisphere. The remaining 20 formed the control group, receiving inactive placebo doses of the treatment. All patients received the same physical therapy.

“When we compared the results between the three groups, we found that both of the treatment groups showed significant motor function recovery” says co-author Anwar El Etribi, Professor of Neurology and Psychiatry at the University. “No improvements were seen in the control group who had received the placebo treatment and the same physical therapy protocol.”

The majority of the patients (95 per cent) had suffered their stroke in the last three years, having been enrolled in the study at least one month after their stroke. However, there was no difference between the level of clinical improvement and the interval since the patients’ strokes.

“We believe that people develop partial paralysis down one side after they have a stroke because the hemispheres of the brain become unbalanced” explains Professor Etribi. “The hemisphere that has not been affected can become over-active, while the damaged hemisphere can become inhibited.

“Our treatment worked on the theory that increasing the activity of the hemisphere affected by the stroke and reducing the activity of the unaffected hemisphere can reduce muscle weakness and improve overall motor function.” Read More .

I had a massive stroke when I was ten years old. I was living in Ohio and came to Las Vegas with my family. The trip was supposed to be 3 days, but I got home nearly 3 months later. This is my story of how I overcame many challenges over the last fifteen years so I could live a “normal” life again. Hear from David by visiting youtube .

Before my stroke I was active, outgoing, and had lots of friends. I loved school and was in the gifted program.

On the first day in Las Vegas I wasn’t feeling well. My mom and I stayed back at the hotel while the others went to Zion National Park.

Shortly after they left, I had my stroke. I ended up in the Intensive Care Unit and couldn’t talk, read, write, or even understand. My entire right side was paralyzed. I couldn’t walk and even swallowing food was hard. I had some seizures.

I had to have two brain surgeries because of a vascular problem that caused my stroke. Once I stabilized, the hard work of rehab began.

After nearly 3 months of rehab, I was finally able to go back to school. I was so excited!! But, most of the teachers and my friends didn’t really understand what I was going through. I was now in a wheelchair and couldn’t talk due to my aphasia. Aphasia is the disability that affected my speaking, reading, and even writing. Aphasia does not affect intellect.

I was so frustrated. Everyone treated me differently. I felt lonely, sad, and really angry. I knew inside that I had to fight to get better.

I progressed in rehab. I learned how to use my left hand for everything. (I’d been right handed) I went from the wheelchair, to walker, to cane, to walking by myself.

My aphasia was my biggest problem. I went to lots of speech therapy and my mom worked with me and she hired others to help me too. Finally, I was able to talk again – starting with just single words

It’s now been 15 years since my stroke. I am now 25. I’ve had years and years of speech therapy and can now speak quite well. I can read and write again. I’m walking. Things aren’t as easy as before, but I live independently and strive to live a “normal” life.

“You need to do what needs to be done, whether you feel like it or not.”

I will never give up. I still go to rehab in Henderson, NV where my family has moved to. I attend a stroke support group and joined in an aquatic swim class for survivors. I work out at the gym.

My hobbies are going to the movies, playing the Nintendo Wii as part of my therapy, and traveling. My family even organized a stroke cruise a few years ago. I went on a trip to Europe this past year by myself. For me, traveling is a good way to challenge myself and enjoy life again.

I’d like to share my thoughts on achieving goals. Stimulating the mind is important. I had lots of therapy. I was not allowed to sit in front of the TV all day. I kept busy with learning how to grow a garden, learning to watercolor paint, use educational games on the computer and more.

I believe it is impossible to recover by lying in your bed all day as you won’t accomplish anything. You have to make an effort.

It is very hard work to be faced with a disability and rehab. Everything changes. It affects you emotionally, physically, and your goals can change.

Coping with this new disability is rough and it affects the people who love you too. But, eventually you will get it. Patience is important, very important.

I couldn’t even talk, play soccer, or even hang out with my friends. My life had totally changed. Sometimes, I felt sad and even angry. I think it is normal to show your emotions as it’s part of the healing process.

I think having faith is crucial too. You have to believe that you will get better. It takes a strong desire to recover and work hard on it so you can. There are many obstacles, but you have to believe you can face them to overcome them.

I often had failed attempts at things I tried. But, I tried again and again. When you put your mind to it, you can go far.

I think it is important to focus on what I can do, not on what I can not. I still have some paralysis on my right side with my hand, ankle, and toes. I can drive and I walk without a cane. I talk, read, and write again. It isn’t as easy as before.

No two strokes are alike. No two recoveries will be the same. But we all must find the motivation and courage to keep trying. There will be times you want to quit. But, you must fight to overcome the down days. You have to do what needs to be done whether you feel like it or not.

My goals have changed.   I wanted to be a doctor like my dad.  I think I would have been a great doctor.  But, I can still help people.  I want to encourage and help others with stroke and aphasia.  I can still make a difference.  My stroke can’t take that away from me. 

Stroke survivor David Dow has appeared in People magazine, Stroke Connection Magazine, and on Good Morning America, It’s a Miracle, Hour of Power, as well as several regional televisions spots on stroke and aphasia. David was named to the Ohio Governor’s Council on People with Disabilities. He has received an award from the Ohio Speech Hearing Association for his work on raising awareness for people with aphasia. Currently, David is working with the American Stroke Association planning a Stroke Cruise for 2011. David lives in Henderson, Nevada.
Email: theaphasiafamily@aol.com Phone: 702-982-3075

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Continue Aphasia Therapy at Home with our Video Programs

Communication Partner produces video programs that provide aphasia speech therapy for stroke survivors and victims of traumatic brain injury.

Researchers agree that aphasia recovery dramatically improves as a result of intense aphasia treatment.

Unfortunately, few aphasia sufferers receive enough therapy to maximize recovery. How much is enough speech therapy?
One aphasic client tells more about the struggles of Aphasia than anything else on this site. During a phone conversation, he said the following:
He said “Stroke…3 years(ago)…52 years old…Aphasia…oh man…oh man…Medicare…3 visits(therapy)…month…oh man…Before Stroke…20 friends…now…Zero friends…Aphasia…oh man”

Aphasia impairs the ability to communicate but doesn’t affect intelligence or feelings. We all have an inherent need to communicate and connect with each other. Call to order: Toll Free Customer Service 888-204-6020 or order on internet:
Communication Partner

This important information is delivered by trained peer visitors — stroke survivors who can share their own personal perspective. After completing the ShareGivers™ training course, peer visitors are uniquely equipped with the skills to share their experience, encourage progress and lend support to stroke survivors and their families throughout the recovery process.

American Heart Association .

Stroke
MONDAY, Aug. 9 (HealthDay News) — Many stroke patients stop taking their medications while many heart failure patients are never prescribed recommended medications in the first place, new research shows.

In one report, researchers found that 25 percent of stroke patients stopped taking one or more of their stroke prevention medications within three months after their stroke.

“Providers should spend more time teaching stroke patients and caregivers when new risk factors are diagnosed and new medications are prescribed, such as blood pressure or cholesterol medications prior to discharge, while keeping the regimen as streamlined as possible,” said lead researcher Dr. Cheryl D. Bushnell, an associate professor of neurology and associate director of the Women’s Health Center of Excellence at Wake Forest University Health Sciences. Read More