June marks Aphasia Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about aphasia, a language disorder that affects communication abilities following brain damage, often due to stroke.
Aphasia affects more than two million Americans, with stroke being the leading cause. It impairs the ability to process language, affecting speaking, understanding, reading and writing. However, it does not, in isolation, impact intelligence or the ability to learn.
Recognizing this distinction is crucial for developing effective rehabilitation strategies.
The American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Stroke Association (ASA) play pivotal roles in advancing rehabilitation methods that emphasize an abilities-based approach, which is included in the the guidelines for stroke rehab and recovery published in Stroke.
The AHA and ASA have been instrumental in promoting research, education and advocacy efforts to improve stroke rehabilitation practices.
Their emphasis on an abilities-based approach has led to:
- Development of evidence-based guidelines for stroke rehabilitation
- Increased awareness and understanding of aphasia among healthcare providers and the public
- Enhanced support networks and resources for stroke survivors and their families
This approach to skilled care provided by physical therapists (PT), occupational therapists (OT) and speech-language pathologists (SLP), underscores the potential and strengths of individuals with aphasia, facilitating a more holistic and effective recovery process.
The abilities-based approach promoted by the AHA and ASA focuses on leveraging the existing assets of individuals with aphasia rather than fixating solely on their deficits. This methodology aligns seamlessly with an interprofessional team approach provided by nursing, PT, OT and SLP, offering a comprehensive framework for stroke rehabilitation.
Let’s consider now what discipline specific role reach team member plays.
To begin, physical therapists play a vital role in stroke recovery, addressing the physical impairments that often accompany aphasia. By focusing on abilities, PTs design personalized exercise programs that enhance mobility, strength and coordination. These physical improvements can significantly impact communication abilities. For instance, improved posture and breath control can enhance speech production, indirectly supporting the work of SLPs. Skilled PT services can improve all of the following: enhanced mobility and independence; improved coordination and balance; and increased confidence and motivation through physical progress
Next, occupational therapists focus on enabling individuals to perform daily activities and participate in meaningful occupations. For stroke survivors with aphasia, this means creating strategies to communicate effectively during daily tasks. OTs employ adaptive techniques and tools, emphasizing what individuals can do, which fosters a sense of accomplishment and self-reliance.
Skilled OT services can improve the development of practical communication strategies; increased ability to perform self-care and daily tasks; and importantly as stroke recovery often includes risks associated with mental health, boost self-esteem through successful engagement in activities
Finally, speech-language pathologists are at the forefront of aphasia rehabilitation. They use the abilities-based approach to design interventions that capitalize on the person’s existing language skills.
By focusing on strengths, SLPs help individuals improve their communication abilities in functional, real-life contexts. Skilled SLP interventions often include enhanced communication skills through personalized interventions; improved quality of life by enabling effective expression and comprehension; and strengthened social connections through better communication
Most importantly, however is a united approach to abilities-based care to ensure language impairments associated with aphasia do not limit physical, ADL, or communicative opportunities.
For example, a physical therapist would want to collaborate with speech pathology in instances where reduced receptive language is impacting an individual’s ability to understand steps for a safe transfer.
Occupational therapy can employ abilities-based pacing during verbal communication to improve independence in self-care ADLs.
Communication at its core impacts all areas of function and implementing the entire therapy scope is proven to yield the best outcomes for those we serve.
In closing, Aphasia Awareness Month is a crucial time to highlight the importance of an abilities-based approach in stroke rehabilitation. The collaborative efforts of physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists, guided by the principles set forth by the AHA and ASA, offer stroke survivors a path to reclaiming their abilities and improving their quality of life.
By focusing on strengths rather than limitations, this holistic approach not only aids recovery but also instills hope and resilience in individuals navigating the challenges of aphasia.
Renee Kinder, MS, CCC-SLP, RAC-CT, serves as the Executive Vice President of Clinical Services for Broad River Rehab. Additionally, she contributes her expertise as a member of the American Speech Language Hearing Association’s (ASHA) Healthcare and Economics Committee, the University of Kentucky College of Medicine community faculty, and an advisor to the American Medical Association’s (AMA) Current Procedural Terminology CPT® Editorial Panel, and a member of the AMA Digital Medicine Payment Advisory Group. For further inquiries, she can be contacted here.
The opinions expressed in McKnight’s Long-Term Care News guest submissions are the author’s and are not necessarily those of McKnight’s Long-Term Care News or its editors.
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