Aphasia Center of California at Oakland

The mission of the Aphasia Center is to enhance communication skills, quality of life, and overall well-being for all those affected by aphasia. 

We pioneer innovative communication therapies using a life participation model, and are an international resource of expertise in the field through our community-based center, cutting-edge research, quality staffing, personalized service, deep understanding, and compassion for those whose lives have been impacted by aphasia.

Aphasia Center of California: here

CSU East Bay Aphasia Treatment Program at Hayward

The Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders and the Norma S. and Ray R. Rees Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic offers an innovative and cutting-edge group treatment program for persons with aphasia.

 The program is proudly founded on the principles of the Life Participation Approach for Aphasia, championed worldwide by leading aphasiologists. This approach places the life concerns of persons with aphasia at the heart of clinical decision-making. 

Further, this approach prioritizes the meaningful participation of persons with aphasia in society. ATP provides a rich social environment for persons with aphasia to interact with peers who have aphasia, graduate student clinicians, trained volunteers, and program faculty who are all nationally certified and state-licensed speech-language pathologists.

CSU East Bay Aphasia Treatment Program: here

Number Therapy by Tactus Therapy Solutions Ltd.

Number Therapy app is a game changer.  I'm practicing MYSELF.

I had a stroke seven years ago. I have aphasia and apraxia.
I have great difficulties comprehending numbers when they are spoken to me. However, I do understand them when they are written down.  It is hard to say numbers.

Tactus Therapy's Number Therapy App is good, really good.  Three sections - Understand, Speak, and Type.

I mostly practice the double digits. Anything goes - currency, phone number, time and more.  And you can record yourself... It's cool!

Understand - I use "listen" and guess from 4 multiple-choice.

Speak - I like cues.  You touch the cue buttons and it helps right away.

Type - I use "listen" and guess.  You ask a hint, and it gives a number word.

By the way, I like "select the text" to hear it spoken by the help/information page.  How cool!

Number Therapy Lite (free) - here

Arm and Hand Exercises for Stroke Rehab

Like me, many stroke survivors have weakness in their arm or hand. It is important to exercise the muscles so they don't get tight. This can be painful and can impede recovery.

Here is an article about Arm and Hand Exercises for Stroke Rehab:  here

Here are some videos of arm and hand exercises. Please check with your doctor or Occupational Therapist and ask if these are the right exercises for you. Some of the videos show caregivers helping with the exercises.

Some of the exercises can be done either sitting or lying down on your back.

Post-Stroke Exercises (Part 1: Upper Limb)

• by SingaporeHealth

Arm Range Of Motion (Shoulder, Elbow, Wrist, Hand)

• by physicaltherapyvideo

Top 3 Stretches for a Tight Shoulder.

• by physicaltherapyvideo

Exercise For Stroke Patients, (For The Arms)

by physicaltherapyvideo

Shoulder Passive Range of Motion Exercises - Ask Doctor Jo

• by AskDoctorJo

Lists of iPad and iPhone Apps for SLPs and Stroke Survivors from Working Speech Pathologists

I'm so excited!  There are so many apps available on iPads/iPhones to help people with their speech. 

I found four great reports on iPad/iPhone apps. Below are descriptions of each.

1. Tactus Therapy Solutions presents:  200+ Apps for Adult-Focused Speech Therapy - here

The Independent Living Centre of WA has a great resource for ipad and iPhone apps. It is great for both Speech-Language Pathologists and stroke survivors. It goes over the basics if using the device and gives great reviews for many useful apps. 

Below are the links to the extensive report. I've noted the pages I found most useful for people with aphasia and apraxia.

2. ILC's Using iPads in Speech Pathology

Click here to read the report.

• iPad settings - page 7

• Aphasia Apps - pages 101 - 102

• Apraxia of Speech Apps - pages 103 - 104

3. ILC's Getting Started - useful iDevice (iPad, iPod, & iPhone) Apps

Click here to view the file.

• Lists of Apps recommended or reviewed - page 0

• Communication (like Prologuo2Go) - pages 3 - 5

• Comprehensive Literacy Support (like iWordQ) - page 19

• Math - pages 20 - 21

• eBooks (like Read2Go & iBook) - page 29

4. Jane Farrall is a speech-language pathologist and and expert in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and Assistive Technology in Victoria, Australia. 

Here are links to her AAC apps lists and reviews:

Jane's AAC Apps in Symbol/Picture Apps is here

Jane's AAC Apps in Symbol/Text-to-Speech is here

Jane's AAC Apps in Text Based Apps is here

How to help with stroke

What is a stroke?  here

Download National Stroke Association's STROKE 101 Fact Sheet for more information.

National Stroke Assoc Recovery - here

American Heart's Finding Support:  You Are Not Alone - here

Key questions to ask your doctor if you had a stroke - here

American Stroke Association's Nutrition Tips for Stroke Survivors - here
National Stroke Association's Healthy Eating - here


How to help with Aphasia - here

Video on Neuroplasticity - here

Stroke Story video - here

How to use adaptive equipment in bathroom video - here

Trish's posts:

• Acupuncture video -here 
• Strategy Games - here
• Right splint video - here
• Calendar to organize meals and other help for families during a time of stroke - here

How to help with Aphasia

How to communicate with someone with Aphasia

• Aphasia Center of California (Dr. Roberta Elman) interview for Comcast Newsmakers video

         

• "I have aphasia" letter is here

• Top 10 tip for talking with people with people:

• Certain things that can help if you are talking to someone with aphasia by The Speech Therapy Centre - here

• Printable communication boards for adults with aphasia - here

Aphasia Simulation - here

Strategy Games - here

How to help with stroke - here

Aphasia websites:

• National Aphasia Association - here
• Voice of Hope for Aphasia - here

Aphasia videos:

• What is a stroke?

• 7 Steps to Stroke Recovery

• A short educational video for children about aphasia following stroke.

How to Communicate with Someone with Aphasia by TAP

Once I was asked to explain “in layman’s terms” how to best communicate with someone with aphasia.

I thought about it and said… ”It’s kind of like learning to dance… each person has a role and learning the steps makes for a beautiful exchange, and when one doesn’t know the steps, one or both may end up with sore toes… or feelings in this case!”

Steps in the Communication Dance!  Let's go here!  

~Triangle Aphasia Project, Unlimited

Tips for Speaking with People with Aphasia by ARC

• Speak slowly & simply.
  
  
• Stay on one topic at a time.
  
  
• Talk to me. I am not invisible.
  
  
• Write down key words & use visuals.
  
  
• Do not shout. My hearing is fine.
  
  
• Please be patient. I am trying hard.
  
  
• Don’t finish my sentences or interrupt.
  
  
• Ask if I want help. Don’t assume.
  
  
• Do not pretend you understand me if you don’t.
  
  
• Let’s talk 1-on-1 in a quiet room.
  
  
• Please show respect. Aphasia affects my speech, not my intellect.
  
  -Members of ARC with Aphasia 
  

Video on Neuroplasticity

"You can help develop new neural pathways.

Effort. Work. Repeated trials.

When David was in ICU and not speaking, I asked the neurologist this question,

"If this was your loved one- What would you do?"

He replied, "Stimulate, stimulate, stimulate -but not to the point of exhaustion."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Play a game. Find simple ways he can be successful - and keep challenging him to do a little more."

Up until that time, I thought David's best recovery would come from just resting.

I was wrong. Recovery takes ACTIVE participation.

Work every day on recovery. Little by little - your brain can create new pathways.

It is often painfully slow to see progress - but you can't give up!

NEVER GIVE UP."  
by Carol Dow-Richards, Stroke Advocate/Writer/Volunteer ARC


Tactus Therapy blog's "10 Things Stroke Survivors Need To Understand About Neuroplasticity":  here

Traditional Game & Computer/iPhone/iPad Games: here

Chit-Chat Aphasia Group at Los Gatos/San Jose

Chit-Chat Aphasia Group

"You are not alone."

• A safe place to practice new communication skills
• People with aphasia need to meet each other
• A place to feel hope
• A place to feel normal 

• Chit-Chat Aphasia Group flyer - here

Registration is required.  e-mail:  Kristine.Kidger@hcahealthcare.com

Meets 3pm on the first Wednesday of the month

Mission Oak Campus, Cafeteria Conference Room

15891 Los Gatos-Almaden Rd, Los Gatos CA

Aphasia Recovery Connection Website

ARC (Aphasia Recovery Connection) is great!... enough said (kidding ;)).

Christine Huggins and David Dow are young stroke survivors with aphasia. They created an online forum of information, questions, tips, and strategies for people with aphasia, their family and friends, and professionals. Check it out:

http://www.aphasiarecoveryconnection.org/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Aphasia.Recovery.Connection/

Speech Therapy: iPad app & websites

Apps for iPad

• Apraxia Speech - ($4.99 - here)
• Speech sounds on cue (lite) - (free - here)
• Visual Attention TherAppy Lite (free - here)
• Language TherApply Lite (free - here)

Websites

• Randell's ESL Cyber Listening Lab:   http://esl-lab.com/
• Activities for ESL Students:  http://a4esl.org/
• English Worksheets: http://www.englishforeveryone.org/

Traditional Game & Computer/iPhone/iPad Games

Your brain is continually finding new pathways.  A great way to encourage your brain to find new paths is to play games.  You can play traditional board games or electronic games on you computer, iPad, etc.

Here are some games I would recommend based on my own experience as well as that of my speech therapist and input from members of one of my stroke support groups:

Traditional Game:

• Gobblet:  here
• Mandala:  here
• Chess & Checker
• Poker & Blackblack & Hearts
• Mexican Train Domino:  here
• ThinkFun Rush:  here

Computer Games & Apple Apps

• Luminosity.com ( 5 free to training - pay to month) - Cognitive retraining computer program:  

• Temple Run  (free - $0.99):  here
• Simon Classic (free - here) or iMimic ($0.99 - here) 
• Mancala (free) - here
• Hearts (free) - here
• FlingFree (free - here) or Fling ($0.99 - here)

Acupunture

Together, Acupuncture and exercise help me to feel better.  I have gone to three Acupuncturists since my stroke.  I did not see improvement from the first two but Dr. Chi has made a difference in the way I feel.  She combines exercise and acupuncture so that I have seen increased movement in my arm.  I can't be positive but since starting to see Dr. Chi I, and my family and friends have also seen a real improvement in my speech.   Dr. Chi has treated many stroke patients and  she consistently shows her compassion for her patients. Here is a link to the website for Dr. Ching Ching Chi: here.


I always get my doctors' approval before signing up for therapies or classes.  It's important that they know and approve of what I'm doing to improve my condition.  I also think that it's in my best interest to bring up new ideas rather than waiting for my doctors' recommendation.  

Going to two different acupuncturists and not getting any results taught me a lesson about asking for references.  Ask for references from your doctors and physical therapists.  They can help you to find trustworthy effective treatments.  Also ask your fellow patients.  Dr. Chi, my acupuncturist, was referred to me by a member of the stroke survivor group that I attend.  

To start your search in finding an acupuncturist in your area, try "googling" the following:  Traditional Chinese Medicine stroke   "your city and state"

Below is a link to a portion of one of my recent acupuncture sessions with Dr. Chi:

Also below is a link to a trailer of an inspiring short film on various methods in stroke recovery for one man and his family, "9000 Needles".  

Walkaide System

When I started walking after my stroke I was experiencing footdrop which caused me trouble walking on things like uneven ground or raised cracks on sidewalks.  A friend of mine arranged for me to try the Walkaide.  It straps on just under the knee and stimulates the nerves to lift your foot when you take a step.

See the  Walkaide  and Video Center - Stroke (CVA)  websites for more information.

Following is a video of how it worked for me. 

Right hand splint

"The SaeboStretch® uses a revolutionary stretch technology, which allows the fingers to move through flexion caused by associated reactions and tone. In addition, it utilizes a low-load, long-duration stretch to return the fingers to the desired position. The SaeboStretch overcomes issues which can result from traditional splints including deformity, joint damage, hypermobility, and contractures."  SaeboStretch web


Check saebostretch for more information.

Watch the following video to learn more about my experience narrated by my sister and see how it works.

To go to the Amazon website click here.

Speech Therapy - San Jose State University

I have moderate expessive and receptive aphasia; severe verbal apraxia.  I have been attending for 2 years and I like it.

"Students, faculty, staff and local residents are welcome to inquire about our services. Referrals are accepted at any time."  ~SJSU Speech Therapy web

"The goal of KACCD is to train students in the service delivery of speech-language pathology. Thus, services are provided by SJSU students enrolled in our programs. The students are supervised by our licensed and certified speech-language pathologists and audiologists." ~  ~SJSU Speech Therapy web

"Services are provided at no charge to registered SJSU students and at a competitive cost to all others. The KACCD does not accept insurance or other third party reimbursements. Fees are paid in advance at the beginning of each semester for therapy. Most sessions are one or two 50-minute visits per week."  ~SJSU Speech Therapy web  

You can find it at SJSU - Speech Therapy

Timpany Pool - San Jose State University

"The Timpany Center is a non-profit therapeutic facility providing a 92° warm-water pool and 102° spa. Both the pool and spa have zero-foot entry, with accessible ramps and small steps. Wheelchairs and walkers are available to use for easy pool and spa entry and transfer."
"The Timpany Center is located next to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, off Moorpark Avenue near Highways 280 and 17 in San Jose, California."  ~SJSU Timpany Center web