WHAT IS APHASIA?
Aphasia is an impairment of language, affecting the production or comprehension of speech and the ability to read or write. Aphasia is always due to injury to the brain-most commonly from a stroke, particularly in older individuals. But brain injuries resulting in aphasia may also arise from head trauma, brain tumors or infections.
Although one million people in the U.S. suffer from aphasia, most people have not heard of aphasia until someone in their family is affected. Of the 700,000 strokes that occur each year, about 25-40% will result in aphasia. There is no known cure.
There are different types of aphasia and it can have a minimal or profound impact on each person. It is a disability that can impact family, friends and employment. It can have a devastating effect.
For more information about aphasia, click here.
For more information about the types of aphasia, click here.
***June has been declared National Aphasia Awareness Month***
This resource page is still under construction. Please come back to visit us frequently.
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APHASIA TREATMENT, RESEARCH & COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
Center for Aphasia Research at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
The Center for Aphasia Research and Treatment was created in 2001 at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) to respond to the challenge of “living with aphasia.” Its mission is to promote the development and implementation of rehabilitation practices that enhance the communication skills of individuals with aphasia and facilitate their engagement in life activities.
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Alexian Brothers Neurosciences Institute
Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability. Many of those who survive a stroke live with ongoing complications. Fortunately, there are many strategies available to prevent long-term consequences. At the Alexian Brothers Neurosciences Institute, we provide acute stroke care that applies the latest knowledge and technology toward minimizing or reversing the potential problems that result from stroke.
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Alexian Rehabilitation Hospital
To watch an Informational Video by Dr. Michael Berkowitz, Adminsitrative Medical Director, click here. Dr. Berkowitz provides information about Alexian Rehabilitation Hospital and reviews the following topics:
- Partnership with the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
- Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation
- Day Rehabilitation Program
- Outpatient Rehabilitation
- Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago at Elk Grove Village Physiatry Practice
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Aphasia and Neurolinguistics Research Laboratory
Northwestern University, School of Communication
Research in the Aphasia and Neurolinguistics Research Laboratory examines language processing and production in healthy volunteers and patients with stroke-induced or primary progressive aphasia (PPA). Of particular interest is charting language breakdown and recovery patterns based on what is known about normal language processing and representation.
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Education & Advocacy
National Aphasia Association
The NAA's mission is to educate the public to know that the word aphasia describes an impairment of the ability to communicate, not an impairment of intellect. The NAA makes people with aphasia, their families, support systems, and health care professionals aware of resources to recover lost skills to the extent possible, to compensate for skills that will not be recovered and to minimize the psychosocial impact of the language impairment.
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Professional Association
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is the professional, scientific, and credentialing association for 145,000 members and affiliates who are audiologists, speech-language pathologists and speech, language, and hearing scientists. Their vision is to make effective communication, a human right, accessible and achievable for all.
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WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Help raise awareness about aphasia in your community!
Educate the public about aphasia!
Bill of Rights.pdf
Promote education in aphasia awareness!
NAA Emergency Responder Training.pdf
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DISCLAIMER
The online informational links offered on this website were gathered from various sources. This is not medical advice nor does it take the place of professional advice. This content is for informational purposes only. Please consult your health care professional for any questions or concerns you may have regarding your individual needs. FAMA does not control nor endorse any of the information provided on these online links and resources. We hope that you will find this information helpful.