As 2025 marks my 30th year as a speech and language therapist (!) I have been reflecting on the essential ingredients for successful aphasia rehab…
⭐ A highly motivated client
⭐ Realistic and FUNCTIONAL goal setting
⭐ A supportive community
⭐ A fantastic partner who ‘gets it’ and once a seed is planted will just run with it
⭐ Technology – Cuespeak, Speak Unique and Predictable
⭐ Collaborative working with a highly skilled neurologic music therapist @clairemaddocks
⭐ Time Time Time
Bind it all together and what do we get? ….
A client who is 3 years post stroke with severe apraxia of speech and significant aphasia who can now verbally greet his friends and family, ask how they are, who can make choice and have conversations using Predictable, who can sing along to hymns, and who this Christmas lead the prayers in church using his own voice thanks to Speak Unique and Predictable.
So much has changed since 1995 but our aspirations remain the same – maximising communication potential and improving quality of life to our clients with communication difficulties. I am excited to see what 2025 brings!
