Primary Progressive Aphasia

Research-based effective programs

focused on

maintaining function and quality of life

What is Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA)?

Primary Progressive Aphasia is a relatively rare form of dementia where initially, the person progressively loses their language function. PPA is a subtype of other forms of dementia - sometimes Alzheimer’s, sometimes Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). There are 3 main subtypes of PPA, and each requires a different treatment approach.

How can Speech Therapy help Primary Progressive Aphasia?

Treating Primary Progressive Aphasia requires a more specialized approach than other medical issues like post-stroke aphasia or other forms of dementia.

The research shows benefit to speech therapy for Primary Progressive Aphasia, but targeted practice does not carry over or expand to other non-practiced words. This means that you focus your practice program on what’s important to the individual.

A “standard aphasia program” doesn’t exist for PPA. The treatment must be tailored to the individual.

If they enjoy coffee, golf, and pineapple, then those are words and topics you focus your therapy on. You’d leave off other unimportant topics like flamingos, skiing and tea.

If they enjoy reading - then treatment prioritizes reading, practicing and modifying the books - on topics of interest- so that the person can still enjoy reading as long as possible.

If the person never picks up a book, then books are not part of therapy.

If a person’s strength is visual information, and challenge is auditory information, then we use that in therapy. We teach visualization strategies, use of external supports. Drawing. Train caregivers to write down keywords and other supported communication techniques. Focus on adapting a person’s hobbies and interests.

As Primary Progressive Aphasia progresses, language will continue to be lost. Together, we create a tailored daily practice program, strengthening and preserving the language surrounding what’s important, for as long as possible. Allowing what’s unimportant to fade as PPA progresses. We also shift focus to care partner training and support, as well as emphasis on alternative communication. It’s important to start learning alternative communication strategies early in the disease process, to maximize success.

Learn more about our customized program.

For PPA, the goal is maximizing function and quality of life.

Strengthen through repetition what’s important to the individual.

Adapt and modify activities as needed to encourage independence and participation in life.

For as long as possible.

If you’d like more information about the recent research studies on speech therapy and PPA, Contact me and I’ll forward some to you, as well as answer any questions you might have.

What’s the difference between neuro-cognitive assessment and a speech therapy assessment?

An assessment with a neuropsychologist is in-depth, lasting several hours over 1 to 2 sessions. Standardized testing is used to determine an individual’s function in many different domains of cognition and communication.

Speech therapy assessments use standardized and informal assessments to determine communication and cognitive strengths and challenges, but goes one step further. Speech Language Pathologists’ assessments focus more on function - how does an individual’s language skills affect their daily lives? We look at a person’s priorities, goals, and the impact of their communication function. Then we develop an individualized plan to maximize function, slow the decline. We strengthen a person’s function, using their life priorities and goals. And we use their strengths to compensate for challenges, always with the goals of preserving independence and quality of life.

Is speech therapy for PPA covered by Insurance?

Speech Therapy is covered under Medicare Part B to address medical necessity only. This includes assessing function, developing and training of an independent home practice program, related to a person’s medical needs. Therapy covered under insurance requires regular regularly scheduled sessions and formal measurements of progress and function, related to medical needs. Some services not covered by insurance include caregiver meetings without the direct patient involvement, ongoing practice or cognitive stimulations programs, sessions focused on individual preferences and priorities instead of medical needs.

Wellness programs are not covered by insurance. Wellness programs focus on a person’s individual preferences, instead of measurable medical need. Wellness programs do not require standardized testing. Wellness programs can meet as frequently as the person prefers - on a regular schedule or an as-needed basis.