Dysphasia, also known as aphasia, is a symptom of brain damage in the language centers of the brain. Dysphasia is caused by several different medical conditions, such as a tumor, stroke, head injury or neurosurgery. It creates many different problems in writing, reading, speaking and understanding what others are saying. The National Aphasia Association estimates that one million Americans, approximately one out of every 250 U.S. citizens, has some form of dysphasia. If you or a loved one have dysphasia, it is worth investigating whether your form of dysphasia would respond to exercises.
History of Dysphasia
Ancient Egyptian physician Imhotep was one of the first doctors to connect brain injuries with subsequent problems in speech and writing. Imhotep noted that one patient, after suffering a severe head wound, was no longer able to speak, as described in "Milestones in the History of Aphasia," a 2008 book by Professors Juergen Tesak and Chris Code. French composer Maurice Ravel was one of the most famous modern dysphasia patients. After a stroke in 1933, he still had many ideas for new music, but could no longer compose because he had lost his ability to write music and recognize the names of musical notes.
Diagnosis Controls Exercises
It is important that you get a precise diagnosis of the illness causing your dysphasia, because some forms of dysphasia may not respond to exercises. The federal National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders recommends that a patient with suspected aphasia be assessed by a neurologist and a speech-language pathologist. You may then be referred to a licensed speech-language therapist for creation of an individualized dysphasia treatment plan, including exercises.
Spoken Dysphasia Exercises
There are many different types of exercises for dysphasia. If you are new to dysphasia exercises, a free set is available as a downloadable PDF, "Expressive Aphasia Exercise," from the Ilinois Neurological Institute. Recommended activities include reciting the alphabet, naming the days of the week and the months of the year, singing simple, well-known songs like "Happy Birthday," describing what various words mean, naming the objects in a room and copying numbers, letters and words.
Computerized Exercises
One example of computer programs for dysphasia patients is Propeller Speech and Language Therapy's Aphasia/Dysphasia software programs. One of their dysphasia programs is "Aphasia Tutor 1: Words," which you can use to start relearning the alphabet and matching a word to a picture. "Aphasia Tutor 2: Sentences" is designed to help you improve your reading and typing.
Aphasia Physical Therapy
The American Stroke Association, in the essay "Physical Activity," strongly recommends that patients suffering from the effects of strokes, including aphasia, consider getting physical exercise that will strengthen the side of their body that has been weakened by a stroke. This may help their aphasia. Patients are advised to choose an activity that they enjoy, engage in a little regular exercise if they are not ready for a long series of activities, start slowly and build up their strength, and chart their progress so they can see the incremental improvements in their endurance.
References
- American Stroke Association: Physical Activity
- The Health Guide: Speech Therapy Activities for Aphasia
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders: Aphasia
- Illinois Neurological Institute: Expressive Aphasia Exercise
- National Aphasia Organization
- Propeller Speech & Language Therapy Software: Aphasia Tutor 1: Words
