Aquired Brain Injury (ABI)

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Non-Traumatic Brain Injury

Some neurological conditions can result in cognitive difficulties..

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Traumatic Brain Injury

Trauma to the brain can affect cognitive and language processing..

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Stroke

Stroke can result in aphasia, dysarthria, apraxia or a combination..

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Research Initiatives

Strategies that promote a path forward after suffering from ABI..

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The Impact of Brain Injury

Compare changes in cognitive-communicatiom after brain injury..

Non-Traumatic Brain Injury

Did You Know?

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30% of all Parkinson's patients are under the age of 50

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20% of all Parkinson's patients are under the age of 40

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Approximately 80,000 to 100,000 Canadians are suffering from Parkinson's Disease

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70% of individuals with Parkinson's disease reported that speech and voice were worse prior to the disease on set

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Over 65% of people with Parkinson's disease report difficulty with speech, but only 4% have seen a speech pathologist

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95% of Parkinson's patients have dysphagia

Other Neurological Brain Injuries

​There are several neurological conditions that result in significant changes in speech, language processing skills and cognition (attention, memory, problem solving and decision making).

Some of these neurological conditions include Parkinson’s Disease, Huntingdon’s Disease, Brain tumours, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, dementia, etc.

By working with a speech-language pathologist, clients can maintain as many skills as possible and develop compensatory strategies to maintain their quality of life. Good communication skills reduce frustration, embarrassment, misunderstandings that result in family strife, and social isolation.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

​There is a strong relationship between cognitive processing and language processing. For example, if you have difficulty remembering new information, you may have problems reading a book or responding in a soicial conversation.

Often difficulties in cognition lead to poor conversational skills, impaired comprehension and behavioural outbursts.

cognition chart showing parts of cognitive function
cognition chart showing lists below the titles cognition and communication

Cognitive Communication

Trauma to the brain is caused by a sudden impact to the head or body or a shearing motion to the body.

Some conditions resulting in TBI include motor vehicle accidents, falls, assaults and sports related injuries.
Due to the complexity of the brain, symptoms may vary.

Some common cognitive communication difficulties include poor attention, poor memory, poor planning, poor judgement and decision making, impulsivity and difficulty finding words.​​​​

Mary-Ellen has worked with this population for many years and will develop a multidisciplinary treatment plan to retrain skills and develop compensatory strategies.​​

A recent Canadian study examining both hospital-treated cases as well as those presenting to a family physician calculated the incidence of mTBI in Ontario to lie between 493/100,000 and 653/100,000, depending on whether diagnosis was made by primary care physicians or a secondary reviewer

Stroke

Stroke can result in aphasia, dysarthria, apraxia or a combination. Aphasia is defined as the loss of language. Aphasia can affect how we understand language when listening and reading, and how we transmit ideas when speaking and writing. Often, finding the right word and comprehending abstract language is difficult.

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There are 300,000 Canadians living with stroke today

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40% of stroke patients are living with severe disabilities

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38% of stroke patients have aphasia

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In Southeastern Ontario, 1,050 strokes occur per year

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50,000 Canadians suffer a stroke each year

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75% of people survive the initial stroke event

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Strokes are the leading cause of neurological disability

Aphasia is when your brain holds your words hostage
Aphasia can mask competence
Aphasia is caused by injury to the left side of the brain
People with Aphasia take extra time to understand what is being said to them
Often times, persons with aphasia have a weakness of the right arm and leg

Dysarthria often results in slurred speech that is difficult to understand.

Apraxia results in motor planning difficulties making speech difficult to understand and resulting in extreme frustration for the speaker.

A speech-language pathologist will assess the strengths and weaknesses of those who have experienced strokes to develop a comprehensive treatment plan to improve communication, improve quality of life, and help those with lived experience reintegrate into the community.

How To Communicate With a Person Who Has Aphasia

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Make sure you have the person's attention before communicating

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Keep the communication simple, but adult. Never treat them like a child

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Encourage people with Aphasia to be as independent as possible

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Whenever possible, continue normal home activities

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Do not shield people with Aphasia or be overprotective, rather, try and involve them in decision-making as much as possible

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Praise all attempts to speak: eye contact, gestures, facial expressions...etc.

Research Initiatives

Words Of Wisdom

Strategies that Promote Moving Forward after ABI

Many survivors of ABI experience breakdowns in communication, social isolation and a wide range of physical and psychological changes that significantly affect quality of life and healthy well being.

interest in this area of research was prompted by our clinical perception that some survivors had developed amazing, fulfilling lives post-injury. Although many individuals are missing domains that affect quality of life such as independence, a vocation and significant relationships, they have been able to find meaning and purpose in their communities. Our findings show that there is general agreement between professionals and survivors about key components that lead to healthy well being and successful reintegration after ABI. In my practise, we are currently using these research findings to develop functional, meaningful rehabilitation programs for survivors and their families.

From Survivors:

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Blame the injury, not the person

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One day at a time

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Embrace change

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Be persistent

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Focus on things you can control

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Embrace the future, not the past

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Use technology

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Get involved in the community

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Accept the loss of youth and move forward

From Professionals:

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Do not compare yourself with others

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It is a day to day journey

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Remain flexible

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Never give up

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Find strategies for weaknesses

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Accept where you are and move forward

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Join support groups

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Embrace survival of the human spirit

Keys To Success

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Survivors have good insight

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Positive attitude, persistence and resiliency

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Strong support system is critical

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Need to link peers with survivors

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Find volunteer opportunities – need a way to give back and feel valued

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Although families may feel unappreciated, their support is critical

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Passionate commitment to an activity (ex. Arts)

The Impact of Brain Injury on Cognitive Communication

an informative post titled "The Impact of Brain Injury on Cognitive-Communication showing detailed illustration of the parts of the human brain and contact information for Mary-Ellen Thompson, Ph.D.
A chart titled Changes in Cognitive-Communication Function After Brain Injury with lists under the different parts of the brain

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