Frequently Asked Questions

What is aphasia?

Aphasia is a communication disorder that is the result of injury to the brain from stroke, tumor and other illnesses.  Individuals with aphasia have difficulty utilizing language to communicate their thoughts, feelings and ideas.  Their intellect and memory generally remain intact, while their understanding of what they hear, what they read, and their ability to verbalize or write are compromised.

Why can some individuals talk, while others can't?

Aphasia impacts each individually differently, depending on where and how the brain was injured, what their communication skills were like prior to the aphasia and the presence of any "speech" problem in addition to aphasia. 

What kind of "speech" difficulties can co-exist with aphasia?

There are two primary types of "speech" problems that can occur with or without the language impairment of aphasia.  They are:  dysarthria and apraxia.  Dysarthria is a speech disorder caused by weakness or incoordination of the muscles that control speech (i.e. breathing, voice and articulation).   A person with dysarthria could have slurred speech or a weak, breathy quality.  Apraxia is a motor planning deficit that affects a person's ability to say sounds that they intend to. a mix up in the signal from the brain to the mouth can make the sound be distorted, absent or replaced by another sound.  A person with apraxia may appear to grope for the correct position for sounds and can often verbalize automatic speech (counting, singing, prayers, etc.) with ease. 

How common is aphasia?

This frustrating impairment affects more than one million Americans. That is more than the number of individuals who suffer from Parkinson's Disease or Muscular Dystrophy.   In addition, there are many individuals who have aphasia as part of another neurological condition, and may be unaware of the term "aphasia" and its implications.

Can a person with aphasia be cured?

There is, unfortunately, no cure for aphasia.  However, some individuals regain a great deal of their language skills and complete resolution of aphasia is common when the medical reason for their aphasia was slight swelling in the brain, infection  or a small stroke / TIA (transient ischemic attack).   Most individuals who have aphasia deal with some level of language difficulty (reading, writing, speech/word finding, or comprehension) long after the initial injury.  With knowledge of aphasia's chronicity, then, it is important to battle aphasia as it impacts an individual's life, now and into the future.

How is aphasia treated?

When an individual is diagnosed with aphasia, it is common for them to be referred to a speech pathologist (or speech therapist).  The speech pathologist will complete a thorough assessment of the individual's communicative strengths and weaknesses and, in coordination with the team/family, set up goals to address in therapy and at home.  The therapy should include education and training for the patient, family and caregivers, as well as methods to compensate for communicative weaknesses while the goals for improvement in each specific area is being targeted.   Speech therapy may be offered while an individual is in the hospital, in rehabilitation facilities, and upon return to home via outpatient or home health therapy.   Unfortunately, there are limitations on coverage of speech therapy services and discharge from therapy is often earlier than what is anticipated or desired by an individual with aphasia. 

What happens when an individual stops receiving therapy?

This is a tough question, as the answer is a variable as individuals themselves.  The severity of the aphasia, the availability of family/friend support, resources, activities, motivation and personality are all contributing factors to the question.  The unfortunate truth is that while there are considerable means of support and access in the community for those with mobility impairments (i.e. wheelchair access), hearing impairments (auditory aids in theatres, churches, etc.), etc., there is a limited amount of support for individuals who can not communicate effectively their wants/needs.  This reduced access, combined with a lack of knowledge/understanding about aphasia by the layperson, sets many individuals up for social isolation and at the very least, reduced independence in community engagement.

What other options are available for individuals with aphasia?

Speech pathologists across the country are seeking ways to improve service to individuals with aphasia, their families/caregivers and the community that serve them.  A project panel with the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASLHA; www.asha.org ) recently offered a statement of guiding values in their publication of Life Participation Approaches to aphasia.  In that statement, they encourage a refocusing of clinical efforts in the area of research to better, and more holistically, address the impact of aphasia.  They support development of programs that continue communicative intervention and support for as long as needed, and desired, by the individual with aphasia.  In addition, they advocate life goals that encourage return to social, community pursuits and a respect for the competency of individuals who suffer from aphasia. 

The Triangle Aphasia Project at WakeMed Rehab is one such answer to this call.  The project is developed by individuals with aphasia, family members and the professionals that serve them.  Our programs are individualized, centered through compassion and committed to innovation in the area of aphasia.  Our mission is to serve individuals with aphasia, their families, and the community through innovative life participation approaches that maximize communicative potential and reduce barriers to social reengagement.

What services do you offer through the Triangle Aphasia Project
at WakeMed Rehab?

Group therapy, Individualized Reengagement Plans (IRP), Community Reengagement, Training, Resources/Referrals and Support.

How are these services funded?

The Triangle Aphasia Project at WakeMed Rehab is committed to offering services at reasonable costs and has program options for those who need financial assistance. The project operates by the generous financial contributions of our friends, families and the community, as well as through reasonable service fees for the programs offered.

What if the individual with aphasia is receiving therapy somewhere else?

The Triangle Aphasia Project at WakeMed Rehab works together with the community service providers.  Area hospitals, rehabilitation centers and community professionals are made aware of our services and utilize them as supplemental support/programming and for when an individual no longer qualifies for programs offered at their site.  The Triangle Aphasia Project at WakeMed Rehab does not compete with area professionals, rather collaborates and serves to assist their planning for individuals with aphasia. 

 

 

 
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