Saturday, August 21, 2010

Wii console could help stroke victims, say scientists

Wii console could help stroke victims, say scientists -


Motion sensing technology, such as the Wii could be to help people with aphasia.


The condition is a language impairment, commonly caused by a stroke, that affects around 250,000 people in the UK. It is thought that technology such as the Wii will help people with this condition learn how to ‘gesture’ independently at home.


Gestures that can be readily interpreted by others are often advocated in aphasia treatment, but can be difficult for aphasic people to learn, because they have additional stroke-related disabilities, such as one sided paralysis. Gesturing can be improved through therapy, but one-to-one sessions can be costly and therapy resources are scarce.


Scientists at City University London are working with the Stroke Association and have been given £300k from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).They want to see if they can develop an affordable computer-based technology to help stroke survivors independently at home.


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The project will create a prototype system that enables users to practise gesturing, receive instant feedback, and master the movements through repetition. It will be run by a multi-disciplinary team from City's Centre for Human-Computer Interaction Design (HCID), and Department of Language and Communication Science.


Jane Marshall, Professor of Aphasiology at City University London, said: "Computer-based treatments have been shown to improve verbal language skills in previous studies, but this is the first time that gestures will be addressed. With 45,000 new cases in the UK each year, we hope that our work will help a wider range of aphasic people to regain communication skills."...next

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

So, what happens,than, when formal therapy ends? Does recovery of speech also end?

Recovering Speech After Stroke...How To Continue Practice When Therapy Ends..

Stroke remains a leading cause of death and disability in the United States and elsewhere. If there is speech and language loss (aphasia) due to the the stroke, speech therapy will often begin in the hospital, or within days of symptoms occurring. Speech therapy may be provided on a daily basis in the early weeks and months while an individual is participating in rehabilitation, with growing evidence that this early speech therapy treatment may take advantage of the brain's spontaneous healing process, helping with the recovery of injured areas.

Home-Like Aphasia House Offers Innovative Therapy

A new facility dedicated solely to innovative therapy for individuals with aphasia, or the loss of speech resulting from neurologic injury, has been established at the University of Central Florida with an anonymous $25,000 donation.
The Aphasia House provides speech-language therapy in a setting distinct from a typical medical office. Each room is outfitted to resemble a familiar space in a home, including a kitchen, garden patio and garage. The rooms are designed to encourage natural conversations. UCF graduate students studying communicaion sciences and disorders provide individualized and group therapy under the supervision of certified clinical faculty.
This is the only intensive program for persons with aphasia in the Central Florida area.....next

Monday, August 16, 2010

Communication Alternative Supporting Augmentative series

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Language Intervention Strategies in This a must read for anyone studying Adult Aphasia A comprehensive review on aphasia. Moreover, it could be called the “Aphasia Bible”. The book is very detailed with information about the diff …
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The Life Interests and Values Cards

The Life Interests and Values Cards


"Supporting Self-Determination in People with Aphasia"






Authors: Katarina L. Haley, PhD, CCC-SLP, Jennifer L. Womack, MA, MS, OTR/L; Nancy Helm-Estabrooks, ScD, CCC-SLP; Denise Caignon MS, CCC-SLP; and Karen McCulloch PhD, PT
Illustrator: Stuart Helm


Estimated Availability September 3, 2010 Estimated Availability September 3, 2010




The LIV Cards:


* Allow direct communication with your client, family member, or friend with aphasia (or other language difficulties) about valued life activities..Next