1. Aphasia Associates Activities and Resources “speakers helping speakers” Fairfield Senior Center 1200 Civic Center Drive Christiansen Room Every 3rd Wednesday of the Month 1:30-3:30 The next meeting date is January 16, 2019

2. Disclaimer
Michael and Chelda Ruff are only coordinating the successful techniques that you share.
Input from every Aphasia Speaker is critical for the success of this group.

3. Aphasia Associates is a Grass Roots effort for Aphasia ‘surthrivers’ (stroke survivors who are thriving) to support one another by sharing successful activities or resources that helped in their recovery; while talking together to practice successful techniques.

4. Sharing Time What Speech Therapy helped the most?
Speaking slowly and listen without filling in my words
Reading out loud and covering up the excess words,
Closing eyes to focus
One-on-One conversations
Hearing tested
Eyesight checked
Aphasia cards for strangers
One minute wait time (research shows it takes 17 seconds for a person to become uncomfortable before a response)
4-7-8 minute calm down time
Earplugs
Wand to speak, the person with the wand has the floor
Sign language
Make it shorter
Bigger fonts
Word Searches
Suduko
Rubic Cubes
Brain puzzles
Understand that all hard days will not last and all good days will not last, it’s a sin wave of continual change for the better
Receiving 2 choices instead of 4 when searching for a word
Accept your newness and don’t try to go back to your pre-stroke level

5. Obstacles What has been your greatest obstacle to date
Obstacles What has been your greatest obstacle to date? Getting others to talk slower and understand, “I am not dumb” Processing for sensory Comprehension Getting clues to help with pulling the word Knowing when it’s time to assist Waiting for responses Mornings Concentration Selecting food from a menu

6. Building Vocabulary Daily This is a suggestion to be done at home.
Make a game of labeling your environment and removing the labels when you are sure of the name of the items.

7. Describing food

8. Read on the go, everything you see flyers, signs, advertisements, books, magazines, poems, Question as you read Who, What, Where, When, How, Why?

9. Name Facial Expressions or Emotions
Write instructions:
Label what you like or didn't like,
loved ,
Lukewarm or Hated it
Loved it and Excelled!)
Make Naming Puzzles
happy or sad faces
Process not product is the goal

10. What is happening? Associate it. Analyze it.
Argue for or against it.
Apply it.

11. What do you see?
What’s my name? Describe it Compare it.

12. similarities and differences (like, unlike)
Learning Progression
similarities and differences (like, unlike)
Determine learning styles and progressions
Label items in Spanish or a different language and form a sentence, question, or statement

13. Communicate without Talking
songs,
make crafts,
Describe an obstacle
Make up words
Origami
Play Now!

14. Resources: Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders
Dr. Darla Hagge - NeuroScience Alliance at the California State University, Sacramento
Northbay Stroke Support Group
Gretchen Hess, Northbay Hospital, Speech Therapist
Aphasia Couples Therapy Workbook, Dr. Larry Boles
Kam Carr Gardner, SLP, Kaiser Hospital

15. Special Acknowledgment of Appreciation
To the:
Fairfield Senior Center
For providing a monthly venue for cooperative speaking amongst people with Aphasia.