Atlas Aphasia Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing high-quality, affordable speech therapy for people with aphasia. We use this channel for training and educational videos, as well as home therapy tasks to improve word finding, auditory processing, reading, and writing. This channel is not a replacement for speech therapy, but is great for extra practice at home for people following a stroke, brain injury, or brain tumor.
Thank you! This is almost identical to the Montessori method for teaching language skills to young children. Two other elements in that method include 1) making sure that the “student” reaches across the midline of their body (ie reaching with their right hand to pick up an item and placing to the left side of the table or vice versa as they match items/cards) in order to encourage neurodevelopment between both sides of the brain (as explained in my Montessori training- I have no medical expertise and may not even be explaining/recalling that accurately) 2) a specific hand washing activity that involves lathering soap on each individual finger from palm to fingertip- both to teach young children good hygiene AND to stimulate/promote development of the prefrontal cortex. (Again, I don’t have medical training, this was part of my training for teaching preschool age children) I don’t know if these reasons are supported in modern neuroscience because Dr. Montessori received her medical training over 100 years ago, but I’m curious if you have any insight? I have a friend recovering from a stroke and I’ve been thinking of incorporating hand massage and activities like the ones you shared into our time together. Thank you so much for this video!
Thanks for the comment and I'm glad you found this video helpful! 1) Crossing the midline (moving left hand over to the right side and vice versa) has been shown to strengthen the connections between the two sides of the brain, especially in early childhood development. I'm not sure if this directly translates to recovery in an adult following a brain injury. (A PT or OT might have more insight!) Sometimes it can be tricky to do this after a stroke, due to spasticity or weakness. But if it isn't painful, there's no reason not to try! There is a type of speech therapy called Melodic Intonation Therapy that incorporates hand tapping while intoning speech based on this idea. 2) From what I understand, massage therapy can help with some effects of a stroke (like weakness, pain, swelling), but does not help with speech/language difficulty. However, again - if it isn't painful and your friend is willing, you could certainly incorporate some of this. You are sweet for spending time with your friend! Many people feel lonely, isolated, and frustrated following a stroke. A support system makes all the difference in terms of mental health and quality of life ❤
Hello my sister just had a stroke. She talks ok but sometimes doesn't make sense. She's said she just bought a car it's outside she doesn't even drive. She thinks the nurses want to hurt her. What can I do to help her. Ty.
I'm so sorry to hear about your sister. It's hard to say without meeting her, but I wonder if she had a stroke that affects the right side of her brain? Do you have access to speech therapy services? Cognitive-communication therapy can help
Hi! It's hard to offer specific advice without meeting your client. But using visual aides is often very helpful for people with aphasia. You might use pictures to explain what you're saying - or offer picture choices for your client so she can express herself better. Having aphasia is super frustrating. Be patient with her and give her extra time.
@@atlasaphasiacenterawesome, thank you! We have a Care Yaya nursing student caregiver that visits my mom and today we used these video techniques and they worked great! Thank you for all your help! 🙏❤️
This is very helpful to me , my friend has aphasia and talking with her is so difficult for her and frustrating ….I will try some of these exercises and I would appreciate any at home activities suggestions. Ann from Ottawa
So sorry to hear about your friend. Not being able to communicate is super frustrating. Many people with aphasia lose friends because their loved ones feel awkward or don't know how to help, so it makes me so happy that you're searching for answers and sticking with her. She needs you now more than ever! Sending big hugs.
I'm not familiar with this program, but I like the idea of a multi-sensory approach. The key is practice, practice, practice! So whatever someone finds interesting and is willing to do A LOT is always great
I know this is not the answer anyone wants... but it is different for everybody. It depends on the size of the lesion that caused the aphasia, how quickly the person got treatment, their motivation, overall health, and age, among other factors. Some people recover within weeks or months, but some people take years. Some people continue to have some residual deficits for the rest of their lives. But you can always improve with practice!
@@atlasaphasiacenter plz tell me one think if I say anything he can't understand in one time he takes time. Sometime he can't understand what I am saying and he will be angry. My father's age is 65year .
Music and language are wonderful, aren't they? I explore ways to overcome language barriers and improve my pronunciation skills by utilizing both the left and right hemispheres of my brain. I hope to learn together, harnessing the power of melodies that stimulate the right brain. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-MGvlpsuYqXo.html
Thank you for making this helpful video. I am a Japanese person living with aphasia, and I am also learning English. I found your video to be very informative and practical, and I appreciate you sharing your expertise. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-10eBfqqHDGM.html
Hi bri, my father i believe got broca aphasia, he can only saying a same words on everything like "papapa or puut puut" and he had right side weakness and small tremors in his right hand. Please let me know if you have some guide to train him. Thanks
So sorry to hear about your father. Coping with aphasia is really hard. It's difficult to tell you what to do without meeting your dad, but you could try exercises in this video! Make sure he is watching your lips when you speak, go slow, and be very patient with him.
Hi docter iam very intersting hope as recovery this apasic phase i had being hemmorogic strok 5years before even now i have follow the life of apasic so now i try exersise ur seciation may i have the chance from this blak synderem
I'm so sorry to hear about your stroke and aphasia. It's hard to give advice without knowing you, because every stroke is different. However, the National Aphasia Association website might have some helpful information: aphasia.org/helpful-materials/
Helo madam i want your help my name meberatu iam 31 years old i live ethiopia AA i suffer by hemorrogic strok secendry moter apasia before 5 years ago so how adevised me this suffering
I'm so sorry to hear about your stroke and aphasia. It's hard to give advice without knowing you, because every stroke is different. However, the National Aphasia Association website might have some helpful information: aphasia.org/helpful-materials/
Very new to your channel and 1 question.Whats the reason for the index finger to the chin?.I'm 55 years old and have been battling Parkinson's Disease since I was 17, all of my adult life, now 38 years. Aphasia has been rough the last 2 years.
I'm sorry to hear about your Parkinson's and aphasia. That sounds very frustrating. I tend to point to my mouth/chin when I am trying to focus people's attention on my mouth movements. Some people with aphasia - and especially those who *also* have apraxia of speech, need strong visual cues to be able to repeat words and phrases.
Good morning, Ma'am Bri. I have in the speech therapy from the UST SLP because that I have the Interns. I want to be back in the law school. Thank you for this, Maam Bri. God bless you.
Thank you so much Ma'am Bri that I will be from the UST SLP Intern. I will just know the scripts from what I am in the work. And, I have to know the Filipino Movies. I had the Wernicke's Aphasia from February 2019. God bless you.
Good morning Bri. Hello am I in the speech therapy and I am under of the book. I can memorize them because that help of me. I hope that you are for your baby and husband for all things. God bless.
Thank you so much, Bri, your videos are very helpful and my husband and I are enjoying doing them. He has already improved with just a few days of everyday practice! You are an excellent teacher/therapist!👏🙏
Hi I got a concussion on the 8th of January clear MRI but am having speach issues. Could this still be aphasia with the clear MRI? If not... What else could mimic aphasia. Waiting on a specialist but trying to help myself right now
Concussions can definitely cause language and cognitive deficits long-term. You may want to look into "post-concussion syndrome." A speech therapist can help diagnose/treat the issue. It may be more related to language, or more related to concentration, memory, and paying attention, but a therapist could help you figure that out!
My dad is 94 and had a stroke in November. He is no longer getting speech therapy. Is is too late to try some of these things. He does use some words correctly but using slot of letters - T h e or nonsense letters.
@@soniajohnson8896 It's hard to say without meeting your dad or knowing his specific language difficulties, but this can't hurt! It is never too late to make progress - little by little. It often takes a lot of repetition and practice. Give it a try and be very patient with him.
thanks for the work! What literature can you recommend that describes the method of working with a broken naming? I am writing with a translation, I am from Ukraine❤🇺🇦😊
Glad you found this helpful! These activities come from clinical experience (and are easily replicated via RU-vid). But there are tons of different methods. This may be a good place to start for summaries of different types of aphasia therapy, starting with word retrieval: www.aphasia.com/aphasia-library/aphasia-treatments/word-retrieval/ This article also has a lot of helpful hints for people with very severe/global aphasia: tactustherapy.com/global-aphasia/#:~:text=Apraxia%20Therapy%20may%20help%20people,tools%20for%20improving%20global%20aphasia.
Out of curiousity, once the PWA is able to recognize the images, is the idea to insert these icons into text for all materials they read? Or how can we take this into practice?
Really good question! I usually make a study sheet or flashcards with the words plus the icons. We review (and/or they practice with a family member) until reading them aloud is easy. Then, I make a new study sheet or flashcards with JUST the words (no icons), to get them used to seeing the words in isolation, but still hopefully mentally picturing that mnemonic and being able to say the word correctly. Again, we do that until they have high success. When we move to phrases/sentences, I do sometimes insert the icons above the text. Alternatively, you can print a study sheet with the words they've worked on and have them refer to it when they get stuck. You can make the "tricky words" a different color within the connected text so they know to look on their reference sheet if they get stuck on those words.
I've also made a Quizlet deck for people to practice on their own. You can click the little audio symbol on the card to hear the word read aloud. quizlet.com/562050205/small-words-with-hints-flash-cards/?i=2zhzj2&x=1jqt
Thank you. This would have helped me in 2012. My loved ones didn’t know how to help. Luckily I had 4 kids (1.3.5,7) that needed to learn also. I still have problems with words when get flustered. Still working. Thanks for providing this to those who need it❤
Many loved ones want to help, but don't know how! Hopefully this video will reach other people who could benefit. And wow - I'm sure it was really hard to have aphasia AND have young kids. But I'm glad their learning helped you. Proud of your continued hard work. It's a process! Sending hugs
work really hard and enjoy doing it like its the most enjoyable thing you have ever done. talk about things you enjoy. if you can make word noises your on your way. no such thing as a time on full recovery for it. it is all on you. remember how hard you wanted to talk when a baby. you need determination like that. listen to your favourite songs with lyrics. try to sing along. everyone is different. keep working on it. enjoy talking. don't stop. don't feel ashamed.
