Often times in the treatment of aphasia families and clients are informed that significant language recovery only takes place during the first year following the brain injury (whether caused by stroke, closed head injury, illness, etc.). At the University of Michigan Aphasia Program (UMAP) in Ann Arbor, Mich. (www.aphasiahelp.com) we have found otherwise.

Many clients attend UMAP several years after the brain injury that caused their aphasia. These clients continue to show improvement in their language skills well beyond the acute stage of their injury.

UMAP has a noteworthy record of accomplishment in treating people with aphasia. It was founded in 1947 at the end of WWII to treat returning combat veterans with head injuries. It is the oldest and most established program of its kind in the nation. UMAP conducts intensive therapy, with 8-10 clients from across the country participating in six-week sessions that are scheduled throughout the year, providing a small and highly individualized program with a nearly one-to-one ratio of staff to clients.

“We regularly see clients who have been told by their medical professionals that they should not expect further recovery,” said Clinical Services Manager Mimi Block, M.S., CCC-SLP. “Most clients who receive intensive therapy at UMAP show gains in their ability to communicate and to compensate for their deficits.”

“For many of our clients and caregivers, and even medical professionals who treat people with aphasia, this is surprising information,” said Block. “Gains in communication give hope not only to the client, but also to the family members. This hope enables the client and the family members to pursue social activities in their home communities, which leads to an enhanced quality of life.”

UMAP uses two diagnostic tools to evaluate clients before and after treatment to determine their progress – the Boston Naming Test and a Picture Description task. Program outcomes indicate that most clients show recognizable improvement in their verbal skills. There is no evidence that age, gender, or level of education affects the amount of improvement that clients experience. Additionally, program outcomes show no evidence that the time post-onset is a factor in the level of improvement made during UMAP’s intensive therapy program.

For more information on UMAP outcomes, please visit AphasiaHelp.com - Program Outcomes.

Aphasia impacts people differently. Depending on the severity, some people may be non-verbal. However, UMAP’s aphasia clients learn first-hand that there are other ways they can communicate with their family and friends. Using gestures, writing, and a pocket communication book, which includes pictures and words, can be as effective as verbal communication.

“We train caregivers to do facilitated conversation with their loved ones,” said Maria Wyche, senior speech-language pathologist. “We focus on giving caregivers techniques and strategies to maximize their loved ones’ communication in a conversation.”

Client Mack Zeigler, 68, of Prosperity, S.C., had a stroke in 2004. He participated in two UMAP six-week sessions in 2006 and 2008. Although he is not able to speak, Mack is able to communicate effectively with his wife, Joyce, by using gestures plus the communication book.

“There are so many ways to communicate that we don’t always consider,” said Joyce Zeigler. “The communication book is very helpful. Mack uses it all the time. We update it daily to reflect our activities. During Mack’s last visit to UMAP, we learned to have a conversation on paper. It is just incredible.

“It is so important to keep trying,” she said. “Mack continues to make progress. I encourage people with aphasia and their loved ones to be patient and have hope. Mack and I have faith that more progress is in his future. We take it a day at a time and look forward to each day.”

“It is amazing when we see clients being able to have a conversation with their loved one — sometimes for the first time in years,” added Maria Wyche.

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Holly K Craig, Ph.D., Center Director, and Mimi Block, MS, Clinical Services Manager, have developed a dynamic new curriculum for caregivers. Caregivers attend weekly sessions to learn strategies for living with someone with aphasia. Here are a few tips:

• Please take time every day to sit down and talk with your family member with aphasia.
• Find a quiet place to talk. Noisy, busy surroundings make conversation difficult.
• Slow down when you talk. Say one word at a time. Give your loved one more time to talk.
• Write down key words and numbers. This may help understanding.
• Keep your sense of humor.

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