Importance of Home programs for aphasia recovery
Regular speech therapy is an essential part of recovering from aphasia.
But it is only part.
Individual speech therapy is highly skilled and can be expensive, with insurance often not covering enough. Incorporating speech therapy activities into home practice program, incorporated throughout your daily life will fill in the gaps, and ensure your speech practiced is functional (so you get the most benefit).
Speech Spark Services is now offering
Individualized Home Programs throughout Wisconsin
Investment - $380
Includes Initial evaluation and custom home program.
Unlimited follow up therapy sessions and/or consultations available at current rates.
Why look into a home program? Insurance coverage often runs out too soon. Sometimes you are discharged from therapy with a plan, how to continue to work to improve your speech. Sometimes therapy just ends without a plan. Or it’s been so long, the plan has been lost, or is no longer effective. As communication skills change, your speech therapy needs to change to. That’s why I developed a cost effective way to continue practicing communication skills, with guidance and support by an SLP.
Completely customized to you, a life participation approach to speech therapy treatment will be used, creating a plan. Practice as much or as little as you want, fitting it into your daily routine. Some people prefer to practice more intensively, with structured activities 2 hours/day. Others prefer to practice their communication skills as part of their daily routine, using their work, hobbies, socializing. Most use a combination.
At Speech Spark, we developed a consultative approach to for affordable access to a Speech Pathologist to support you in your plan. You receive….
The expertise of a Speech Pathologist with almost 20 years experience.
The convenience of working your therapy exercises into your daily routine.
Focused around YOUR priorities and goals - Life Participation Approach.
Caregiver support and education.
Cost-effective option to continue your progress improving functional communication.
Who is this custom speech therapy home program for?
We address all communication-cognition problems including...
aphasia (e.g. mild to severe word finding problems, difficulty understanding a person's speech, inability to read or write)
cognitive deficits (difficulty paying attention, remembering, problem-solving, or a variety of other problems)
Home programs are also available for articulation challenges, including children speech sounds, adult lisps - Learn more about the speech sound program HERE.
Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA)
Research supports the benefits of speech therapy techniques, consultations, multiple-mode communication techniques, and the expertise of a Speech Pathologist. PPA progresses - that means language will decline. Our goal is to slow the decline and maximize effective communication and quality of life, for as long as we can. We can help you create a plan addressing current communication concerns, planning ahead for future ones, and emphasizing quality of life. Learn more about our approach to PPA
Mild Cognitive Impairment
Mild cognitive impairment is not dementia - but it is a precursor. Taking action will help improve function, learn compensatory strategies to facilitate independence. We will create a cognitive-language stimulation program focused on your daily routine and interests, find compensatory strategies and supports that fit your lifestyle.
Stroke Recovery
There is no plateau when it comes to stroke recovery— it doesn’t exist. Sometimes you’ll need a break. Sometimes you’ll need a different treatment approach, or shift in focus. But even if the stoke was several years ago, progress CAN be made. WITH motivation, determination, practice, and the right expert team support. Your expert team consists of the person with aphasia, supportive care partners, and experienced. Speech Pathologist
Dementia Communication
This program is focused on caregiver education and support. Have access to a consistent Speech Pathologist to curate resources, help you problem-solve, learn effective communication strategies regardless the stage of dementia, and focus on quality of life.
The Process for a speech therapy home program
At our initial visit, we’ll discuss your basic medical history, functional goals, interests and priorities. We can meet online (schedule here!) or if you live near Green Bay, Wisconsin, we can meet at your home (or other agreed upon location)
The home practice program will be set up to address YOUR goals, so think about how your communication challenges are affecting your daily life - what do you enjoy that’s difficult right now? That’s where we start.
Goal setting for communication goals
We look at:
WHAT is difficult,
WHY it's difficult,
HOW it's impacting living life (what can't the person do because of their condition).
Once we know those factors, then we work together as a team to choose goals and develop a plan to help.
For each client, we select research-based techniques to make efficient progress. With a combination of structured practice exercises and social experience practice, you will be working towards recovery every day. This approach has been thoroughly researched and is incredibly effective. Your Speech Pathologist will be available anytime through our secure portal messaging system, as well as video and/or in-home meetings at least monthly
Consultative Home program
Includes 1:1 Support
Customized “Speech therapy at Home” program plus messaging support.
Investment - $380
Includes Initial evaluation and custom home program.
Add individual 1:1 treatments for $30 / each 15 minutes
Ready to work improve communication?
Example speech therapy Program:
Initial interview during our first meeting to gather information and determine goals.
Individualized home program - encourages unlimited hours of practice of skills. May include:
Carefully selected app recommendations. If using Constant Therapy, your Speech Pathologist will monitor your progress and adjust your plan remotely several times/month.
Video models of exercises.
Functional tasks and social experiences to complete Independently or with family / friends.
Compensatory strategy recommendations
Visual and environmental supports and modifications
At your convenience, additional unlimited 1:1 meetings - sessions and consultations available at regular fee. We can have a regular appointment or you can schedule one whenever needed.
These meetings are the perfect opportunity to ask questions, see demonstrations of therapy exercises and techniques, try out new exercises, or practice assigned exercises. These 1:1 appointments are not therapy and do not replace speech therapy. They can be with the client and/or care partner - flexible options to meet your needs.
Examples:
Client A is doing very well after her stroke, but has difficulty with more complex word-finding, reading, and problem-solving. She's very motivated and willing to practice on her own. We set up a home program and a 60 minute consultation 1 time a month to help jumpstart her recovery.
Client B's stroke was 2 years ago and he is limited to speaking just a few words. He is highly motivated to improve, with plenty of family and friends around for support and practice. We set up a plan with weekly online consultations plus app exercises, participation in community activities, and online aphasia discussion groups = intensive aphasia therapy with the convenience of maintaining his in-home routines
Incorporating speech therapy practice into your daily routine is essential to maximize progress. Here are some ideas to get you started…
Example #1
This first tip may be the most important, Get out!
Go out someplace you enjoy, but there's important criteria.
1- It should be quiet. Tip- wherever you choose, call ahead and ask which days are the quietest, least busy.
2- It must NOT REQUIRE talking. Communication practice is the goal, yes. But we are aiming for a no-pressure, relaxing situation here. Going out for coffee is great (personally, one of my favorite activities) but if you are with someone there's pressure to talk. We want talking opportunities. Not requirements.
Example places to go (Now, I live near Green Bay, but take these examples and run with them for whatever venues are near you)…
The Automobile Gallery- enjoy cars? Whether you are an automobile fan, interested in the engines, or just appreciate the craftsmanship, The Automobile Gallery in downtown has a large collection of beautiful automobiles. It's also well-lit, handicap-accessible, and if you go on the right day, quiet
Other ideas include the Botanical Gardens and the National Railroad Museum.
What do you do?
Just hang out. Take in the sites. Make comments; no questions/quizzes. Describe the automobiles- what they look like, driving them, reminisce about carwashes, drive in movie theatres, cross-country road trips.
Language is art, let it flow wherever it likes.
Afterwards, write down how it went, communication-wise. Successes and challenges.
If you enjoyed the outing, get a membership and go back the next week. Read for more examples Repetition is an essential part of aphasia recovery, so it's perfectly ok to go to the same location, have the same conversation 10 times.
Language skills will vary each time. Some days will go great, other days won't. That's just how aphasia works.
But stimulating that language, during an enjoyable task is what’s important, what will help you progress.
Example #2
A recent client was a talented painter, with severe apraxia and aphasia from a stroke. He had difficulty with both language and motor speech. He used the photos in his cellphone to help himself communicate. He loved to paint before his stroke, but since her lost the use of his right hand, he refused to paint.
Home Practice recommendation included to attend an art class, one that is focused more on creative expression and not technique. There should be opportunities to socialize and communicate as much as he chooses.
The goal is to incorporate his favorite hobbies and interests into a low pressure, enjoyable communication situation.
Example #3
Another favorite - post-it notes. I have many tips and tricks related to post it notes, but here's the first one:
Use Post it notes to label objects around the house.
This can help Target reading, comprehension/recognition of objects, and speaking.
You can also use the labels as reminders and cues to practice functional communication throughout your day.
Example #4
June 4th was National Donut Day. It was the perfect day to have a donut taste test competition - great for language and practicing speech therapy skills too - Use numbers, visuals, gestures, multiple choice, descriptors, drawing, ANYTHING
Example #5
Books - Reading is wonderful, at any level. Read for enjoyment, read for education. I often recommend “Healing the Broken Brain” - an easy to read, well-researched, 100 most common questions about Stroke Recovery.
Example #6
Relaxation is essential. When a person has aphasia, their brain has to work so much harder than everyone else’s, even to do “simple” tasks. This causes fatigue, often more than one would prefer to admit. More fatigue ==> worsening aphasia moments. Building non-language, relaxation tasks into the day can help provide “neuro breaks” that are essential to feeling good.
For me, sitting out on my deck with a cup of coffee, listening to the birds, wind chimes, and leaves rustling in the breeze. That’s my “happy place” to relax and reset after a stressful afternoon. Find yours, and build it into your routine.
Take these examples and adjust or expand on them for your life and interests. They will work for any level of aphasia severity, and will also work for those with primary progressive aphasia.
Examples:
Prayer / Meditation / Breathing exercises
Scents -
Aromatherapy - experiment with different scents - lavender, bergamot, lemon, cedarwood. There are MANY types that are effective, with research support. Experiment and see what you like.
Tea
Other kitchen scents - coffee, fresh baked bread
Certain flowers
Music - certain songs / types of instruments
Textures - certain blanket, sweater
Repetitive actions - winding yarn, sanding wood, painting
Example #7
Dogs and cats, any friendly pets can be wonderfully therapeutic in a lot of ways. There’s even good research to show petting dogs can lower your stress response and blood pressure.
From a language standpoint, animals are wonderful listeners. They will listen patiently while you practice talking to them. pets don’t mind if you stumble over your words a bit.
Meet Sol - future therapy dog
I often recommend home practice exercises that include talking aloud, even if there’s no one around, just talk to yourself, to practice getting those words from brain out of the mouth. Some people are more comfortable if they talk to a plant or animal instead of themselves.
Since we got our new puppy, I’ve been talking to him quite a bit. Even narrating my day - it’s excellent functional language practice and Sol is happy to listen. Eventually, Sol plans to train as a therapy dog, so he will be able to join me in my speech therapy sessions, as clients choose. We’re both looking forward to it.
Example #8
Keep a calendar. Some people like a dry erase board, some a desk calendar, others a small pocket agenda.
Write things down!
Appointments, reminders, everything. It helps ease the “cognitive load” on your brain, reducing fatigue. Research has shown the very act of writing things down helps put them into your memory. It's also useful for retrieving names of places and people- just check your calendar.
Example #9
Connecting with others who have aphasia can be helpful. Some people like support groups. Group speech therapy is also beneficial.
A wonderful option that's still relatively new is free communication groups- online, called Virtual Connections. It's a collaboration between Aphasia Recovery Center and Lingraphica. It's not speech therapy, but it's a very helpful part of your recovery plan if you can find the right group for you. Consider your interests and communication level, comfort level. Try out several groups- it's a great way to explore a bit. They even offer music-focused groups (music is great for stimulating language and the Brain in general).
Go check them out HERE.
