What is an Intensive Aphasia Program?
After a stroke or brain injury, the brain requires a lot of repetition over a short period of time to re-learn language and skills. Recent research has shown that individuals with aphasia benefit from intense treatment over a short period of time. An intensive aphasia program provides the opportunity for individuals to practice skills intensively while being guided by skilled clinicians. The goal of an intensive aphasia program is to help people rehabilitate back to their life and re-learn communication skills that are now challenging.
Intensive aphasia programs vary in how they are set-up, intensive aphasia programs generally include at least 3-hours of therapy per day for 3-days per week over at least a 5-week period. Intensive aphasia programs are also comprehensive in that they address a wide range of goals and incorporate multiple approaches to treatment, including:
Technology
Education
Group and individual treatment
Evidence-based therapy approaches
Who is eligible for an intensive aphasia program?
Admission criteria is generally focused on:
Diagnosis of aphasia
Independence for toileting/eating (or a support person present)
Intact hearing, vision and memory
Ability to work for prolonged periods of time
Motivation to improve
While each client is different, we have seen great improvements regardless of severity, aphasia-type, education, age or stage of recovery.
What does an intensive aphasia program look like?
Evergreen Communication Therapy offers a unique intensive aphasia program consisting of 12-hours of therapy per week for 10-weeks. The first week is spent completing a comprehensive speech and language assessment as well as interviews with the client and their family members to learn more about the individual’s goals, strengths, challenges and interests.
After the first week, there is a one-week break for the clinicians to create an individualized program and review the program plan with the client. The following week, treatment will begin where the individual will receive 12-hours of therapy per week generally across 3-days for the remaining 11-weeks of the program.
What types of things can I work on in an intensive aphasia program?
Our main focus is on functional life goals that will create an impact on an individual’s everyday functioning such as expressive communication, conversation skills and building relationships. Goals can be very specific (such as saying your grandchild’s name) or more general (such as, labelling numbers). Some examples of goals:
Reading a novel/reading comprehension
Labelling numbers
Names of friends/family members
Writing information from a voicemail about an upcoming appointment
Sending a text message or email
Reading a bedtime story to my grandchild
How are intensive aphasia therapy programs funded?
Intensive aphasia therapy programs can be quite expensive due to the number of professional hours involved. At Evergreen Communication Therapy, most people pay privately though some individuals may have access to funds through insurance claims (e.g. car accident) or extended health care coverage. Individuals also create “GoFundMe” campaigns to help offset the cost of an intensive therapy program.
Are intensive aphasia programs effective?
The short answer, yes. Research has demonstrated that short-bouts of intensive treatment for aphasia are effective at improving communication skills. At the Evergreen intensive aphasia program, pre- and post- treatment testing is completed that not only provides feedback to the individual on their progress but also informs future treatment methodologies. It is important to note that an intensive therapy program is not a cure; someone who had significant aphasia before treatment will have significant aphasia after treatment. The Evergreen team will help set realistic goals from the outset and share progress along the way.
What happens at the end of the program?
Continuing to practice the skills you worked on in your intensive aphasia program is critical to the maintenance of these skills. At the end of the intensive aphasia program, Evergreen clinicians will provide the individual with:
A maintenance program for at-home practice
Suggestions for therapy apps to continue goals
Suggestions for ways to continue improving targeted goals
Comprehensive report summarizing goals and improvements during the program
A wrap-up meeting to review the program
Information about how to connect with local opportunities for social participation
Caregiver and family support references
