Medical Professionals are not responsible for Your Recovery

Today, I spoke to a lady about her husband who is suffering from Aphasia. He had a stroke in March and is just now coming home. They are waiting on a home health professional to call and set up a scheduled time to begin home health sessions. They have been waiting for 3 days with no call.

Her husband is very frustrated. At times, he can say entire sentences. He can't even get out a single word at other times. He needs more therapy. He wants more therapy.

This lady is very proactive. She actually was calling me to order the aphasia therapy dvds that I produce (www.communicationpartner.com).

She said, "We cannot wait for others to help us...". She was stating a very simple, very real truth that few people realize until many years post stroke. You, alone, are responsible for the amount of therapy you receive and the progress you can make.

I know this idea may seem harsh, but the sooner you can realize this basic truth, the better you will be. Medical professionals can and should help as much as they can. But, the aphasic individual and his or her family are the most important factors in recovering from aphasia.

June is National Aphasia Awareness Month

June is national Aphasia awareness month. If you have found this article, you probably are already keenly aware of Aphasia and its effects.



My hope is that more Americans will become knowledgeable of what Aphasia is and is not. People who suffer from Aphasia have difficulty communicating. They are okay cognitively.



This month, please help me inform the American public that Aphasia affects communication and not the mind.



Last June, I wrote an article for a special section the Washington Times published for National Aphasia Awareness month. You can read it by clicking here www.print2webcorp.com/news/washingtontimes/aphasiaawareness/20090611/p2_s1.htm.



If you have an Aphasia support group, plan a project to inform your community about Aphasia. If you are not a member of an Aphasia support group, find one. You can start by looking at http://www.aphasia.org/ for groups in your area.



Hope you have a Happy June!

Speech Therapy for Aphasia when Insurance runs out

Speech Therapy is essential for recovery from aphasia. Unfortuately, therapy is often limited due to insurance limitations. Insurance companies believe that if you can walk then you don't need rehab anymore.
They don't even consider the fact that the individual cannot even speak. I have seen it many times. A patient is discharged from the Rehab hospital because insurance is refusing to pay anymore days stating that he has reached his physical goals. Meanwhile, in speech therapy, he has great difficulty saying simple single words. But he is sent home, and instead of receiving therapy 5-7 days a week, he has to settle for 2-3 days a week in outpatient or home health therapy.

Also, the old "rule" used to be that the potential for progress ended after one year post stroke (or head injury). However, research now is saying that much progress can still be made after this year deadline. I happen to agree.

If you need more Speech Therapy for Aphasia, please look at my site, www.communicationpartner.com. I have produced 6 videos that provide needed aphasia therapy.