Neuro SLP

No "one thing" is aphasia therapy.

So many things can be part of aphasia therapy, and it's up to a skilled speech pathologist to set goals and then determine which treatments can best be used to achieve them.

You might use a cueing hierarchy, talk about semantic features, tap out syllables, memorize scripts, read aloud, gesture or draw, expand on sentences, describe pictures, role play interactions, use strategies, match words and pictures, arrange letter tiles, copy or write words, use a picture or letter board, or answer questions.

These are all part of the many evidence-based treatments that have been shown to improve communication in people with aphasia.

Want to know more? Visit the "How To" section of our website to read about each treatment and download free handouts. https://tactustherapy.com/how-to/

The research doesn't point to one particular speech therapy technique that is more effective than the rest, but it does point to one factor that seems to matter a lot:

Intensity.

People need MORE therapy to change the brain and learn new skills. That's where technology shines.

Software doesn't get tired. Software can be there 24/7 for whenever you're ready to work. Software that mimics proven protocols and gives you feedback and support can be just as effective as in-person delivery of the same technique.

That's not us saying skip speech therapy. Never. But add to your therapy with home practice to increase the intensity you need to improve.

If you're a speech pathologist, you need to let your clients know about their technology options. In-person sessions are a great time to teach, train, monitor, and adjust apps to get the most out of them.

Did you know that communication partner training is one of the most evidence-based interventions we have for aphasia?

That means we need to include care partners in therapy and make sure they are well-trained to be good communication partners. Aphasia doesn't just affect the person with the stroke after all.

While sometimes care partners see therapy as a break, it's important to bring them into the room and make sure they know how to communicate with their loved one effectively, how to be a good support for home practice, and have connections to the community resources they need for respite, mental health, and medical care.

Learn more about CPT here: https://tactustherapy.com/communication-partner-training-cpt/

Aphasia Myths Busted - Learn the Truth to Build Aphasia Awareness Aphasia is poorly understood by the public. Learn what aphasia is and isn't as we bust these 10 common myths about aphasia.

We often (unfairly) judge people's intelligence based on how well-spoken they are.

People with aphasia may not be able to speak well anymore because of the damage done to their language centers by a stroke or brain injury, but they're the same intelligent people they've always been.

When speaking with a person with aphasia, you can modify the complexity of your sentences, the frequency of your words, and the rate of your speech, but you don't have to talk down.

Presume competence. Talk about the things you've always talked about with that person. News, politics, travel, work, family - the things adults talk about. Just do it in a way that is easier to access and respond, if that's what the person needs.

Not sure what to do? Ask the person. They may have personalized advice to share with you.

Aphasia NZ Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

World-first aphasia treatment centre | 7 News Australia A world-first treatment centre in Brisbane is having life-changing results for people who have suffered a stroke, helping people who have language and commun...

interact-ABI-lity - ABI Communication Lab Welcome to interact-ABI-lity – a program which provides information and strategies to help you interact more successfully with people with a brain injury. interact-ABI-lity is the world’s only self-guided communication partner training program to cover different communication changes that happen...

aphasiacre.wpcomstaging.com

International Aphasia Research Conference 2024: Access Session Research presented in an accessible way. People with aphasia and supporters are invited to attend free of charge.

Frustrated with therapy sessions that feel more like tests than learning opportunities? You're not alone. Testing-focused therapy often leads to plateaus in progress, leaving patients feeling stagnant.

In contrast, learning-focused therapy prioritizes teaching over testing.

Here's how you can improve comprehension in aphasia:

🌟 Context is Key: Connect language to real-life situations using gestures and slower speech.
🌟 Multiple Communication Avenues: Utilize gestures, writing, and visual cues to enhance understanding.
🌟 Emphasize Context: Use sentences instead of single words to provide clearer context for comprehension.
🌟 Slow Down and Emphasize: Speak slowly, emphasizing key words and gestures to aid understanding.

Remember, comprehension can improve over time with the right techniques. Let's focus on empowering individuals with aphasia to enhance their communication skills effectively! 💪

Learn More: https://buff.ly/3VPAnW9

Off the back of our newly released ‘Working with people with lived experience of dementia’ practice guideline, find out more about how the guideline came about, and the important role that speech pathologists can play in supporting people with dementia in this week’s .

Join Naomi Folder, project officer for the practice guideline and Kym Torresi, SPA Senior Advisor for Aged Care in an engaging conversation on how the guideline can support speech pathologists working with people with dementia.

https://on.soundcloud.com/DCgFormyz16e8FAL9

Today is the first day of Brain Awareness Week!

Today's webinar is all about dementia risk factors, brain health, and tools to assess brain health.

Webinar topics include:
Modifiable vs non-modifiable risk factors for dementia
Medical and lifestyle risk factors
Lifecourse approach to brain health and cognitive health
Translating knowledge into practical tools – CogDrisk

Scientia Professor Kaarin Anstey is conjoint Senior Principal Research Scientist at NeuRA - Neuroscience Research Australia Director of the UNSW Ageing Futures Institute, and an ARC Laureate Fellow. Her research focuses on mental health, cognitive ageing, and dementia.

Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kRvyRpomS0O8RiOdymt_Dw #/registration

Did you get your copy of our latest Resource Round-Up? ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
If not, check out the link below or in our bio and subscribe!

https://tactus-therapy.ck.page/posts/resource-round-up-ppa-aphasia-research-and-online-resources

Dr Sarah Northcott has posted a series of films made with people with / family members on what we can all do to support emotional recovery post .

http://cityaccess.org/carahub

It's official! We've started letting people in. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

First on the list are those who signed up at the 2023 ASHA Convention in Boston.

Next will be the people on our waiting list who have asked for early access.

Then it could be YOU!

Head to the link below or in our bio to sign up. When we're ready for you, you'll get an email with a link to the website where you can sign up for a 21-day free trial before subscribing for a year or month-to-month.

https://tactustherapy.com/vrc-waitlist/

No obligation - just early access!

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Did you know that there is this FREE online therapy app designed by Australia’s own Dr John Pierce? AND it’s in different languages.

Have you tried it?

http://www.aphasiatherapyonline.com

Australia punches above its weight in aphasia rehabilitation research thanks to your willingness to help.

We are ranked 3rd in the world after the USA and UK.

Now that you have introduced yourselves, now let me introduce myself.

My name is Linda Worrall. I manage this page as a volunteer.

I retired 5 years ago. I was a professor of speech pathology at The University of Queensland in Brisbane. Here was my academic profile:

https://shrs.uq.edu.au/profile/158/linda-worrall

Aphasia is what I taught, researched, managed clinically and advocated for.

Please use my knowledge and networks! This is what I’m here for. Ask me anything about aphasia.

Hi! I'm SETH. Your Speech Entrainment Therapy Helper.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

I'm a life-like digital avatar who will show your patients how to say words and phrases. They'll copy my movements when you're not around to show them.

Right now I can say all the words that are in the treatments on the Virtual Rehab Center. Soon I'll be able to say any words your patients want to practice - how cool is that?

I'm just one of the many uses of technology inside the Virtual Rehab Center that can help your patients get more practice to enhance their recovery.

I can't wait to meet you!

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Seeking Speech Pathologists to assist in research with Community Aphasia Groups. Are you a speech pathologist in Australia who is interested in community aphasia groups?We are now recruiting speech pathologists to participate in the second phase of our research investigating an…

Tactus has always been known for aphasia treatment, but the Virtual Rehab Center will put us on the map for cognitive treatment too.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

We're approaching cognitive therapy first from the evidence-base, reviewing the literature before starting our design. Then we're looking at it from the patient's point of view - what they can understand and need in their lives. Finally, we add in the features we know clinicians need to track progress and monitor home programs.

We're also trying to make each cognitive treatment as accessible as possible, so those with aphasia aren't excluded from benefitting from working on thinking skills. Visual and audio support and a consistent layout make everything easier.

Our beta testers have been using and improving the Virtual Rehab Center for over a year, and now we're just weeks away from opening it up to all clinicians.

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Free homework for patients is one of the best things about the Virtual Rehab Center. Here's how it works:​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

1. You do a treatment with your patient to make sure they know how to do it and the level is right.
2. You assign up to 6 treatments for homework, along with a message of any instructions or encouragement.
3. Your patient logs into their free account and sees only what you've assigned and your message - all on one screen.
4. You get reports when they've completed their homework.

That means patients know exactly what to do. Anytime you update the homework plan, the patient gets an email with a log-in link.

What they don't get is a bill. As long as they're on your active caseload and you're a member of the Virtual Rehab Center, they can do their homework for free. They're already paying for therapy, so why should they pay to do the homework you assign?

You, your patients, and their families are going to love the Virtual Rehab Center!

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Announcing the 2024 February online seminar with Dr Brielle C. Stark from Indiana University Bloomington, USA. Inner Speech in Aphasia: Considerations for measurement, and implications for understanding daily life with aphasia, the language system, and response to therapy. Presentation by: Dr Brielle C. Sta…

Functional. That's a word we've been saying a lot when designing the brand-new treatments inside the Virtual Rehab Center.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

When it comes to following verbal directions, it's rare that anyone is ever asked to put the pencil on the other side of the book. But they are asked to close the door, stick out their tongue, and put on their shirt.

These are the kinds of everyday instructions you'll find in our Understanding Spoken Directions treatment. There are 8 levels of difficulty, all with 1-step commands, to really get into comprehension of short phrases.

The Virtual Rehab Center also has single-word comprehension and verification tasks, as well as compound word tasks to take the difficulty up a level. We'll be adding more high-level tasks in the future.

Listening is just one of the 7 skills currently treated in the Virtual Rehab Center, along with Talking, Reading, Writing, Memory, Attention, and Executive Functioning.

You're going to love it!

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From Emma: My first trips out after my stroke were hard. I felt self-conscious because people were staring at how I walked. My right arm was paralysed and my elbow bent, but when I had to talk I felt even worse. I know that I am not alone, so I made this video with my tips about going out with aphasia:
https://bit.ly/48ZUHHD

Goals are essential to good therapy. They clearly define what we're working toward and how we know when we've achieved it. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

But honestly, I hate writing them. Especially SMART goals. I enjoy the part where I talk with the patient about what they want to improve. The details of how we'll get there and how I'll measure it, not so much.

That's why we've built the SMART Goal Assistant. It's not a goal bank, but it is a highly structured and very helpful multiple-choice, multi-step process that will help students, new clinicians, and even seasoned therapists write better goals.

Write goals that clearly define the why, what, how, how well, and when of what you're working toward - in any area of speech pathology for adults - with the new Virtual Rehab Center. Coming soon!!

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Tactus apps have always given you reports in clinical language, if you emailed them right away. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The Virtual Rehab Center, our upcoming online platform, goes above and beyond, giving you access to clinical reports any time for any session.

And these aren't just in clinical language - they're in SOAP format! We've given you all the subjective, objective, assessment, and plan information we can based on what happened during the session. You just need to fill in the things our software didn't capture - the mood of the client, your observations, and what you're going to do next.

Copy from the Virtual Rehab Center into any EMR that allows pasting. Keep only the parts you want, edit whatever you need.

You enter the name and pronouns for each patient in the patient profile to populate the report. Patient, client, resident, Mr. Jones, Travis, or whatever you want.

You'll also get patient-friendly homework reports right in the Virtual Rehab Center when your patients complete their homework sessions so you can keep track of how well they're doing. How cool is that?!

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