Aphasia

Aphasia (uh-fay-zhuh)

Aphasia is an acquired communication disorder impairing part or all of a person's use of language. It occurs after parts of the brain controlling language are damaged (e.g., after a stroke, head trauma, brain turmour), impairing a person's ability to speak, write and/or understand words. It affects every person differently and may have an impact on all of their languages.

It should be noted that aphasia is not an impairment of intelligence.

Aphasia is most often caused by stroke, but any disease or damage to the parts of the brain that control language can cause aphasia. Some of these can include brain tumors, traumatic brain injury, and progressive neurological disorders.

A person with aphasia may have problems:

• Thinking of the words to say
• Saying words the right way
• Speaking of writing in sentences that make sense
• Understanding words or conversations
• Following directions
• Reading and understanding what was read
• Spelling words correctly.

Definitions and Scope

Types of aphasia?

Target Population: [name of target group]

[identify target group and define who is included or excluded in this category: you want to get it just right: not too broad that it includes those you may not want to include, and not too narrow that it excludes those you want to help. You might be too exclusive: e.g. defining ‘vulnerable’ seniors as ‘low-income’, but you may want to include those without family support. Therefore, you may want to define vulnerable as ‘poor and/or with low family support’. You might be too inclusive: e.g. ‘latchkey kids’ may include those who have working parents, or those with serious behavioural problems.]

Size of Target Population

[How many people with aphasia are there in Singapore? Any estimates?]

Desired impact for target group

A society where there is gender equality (Aware)

‘Equal Space, Equal Voice and Equal Worth’ for women in Singapore (SCWO)

Issues Facing Persons with Aphasia?

Issue #1:

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Existing Resources

Gaps and Their Causes

Possible Solutions

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Issue #2:

Existing Resources

Gaps and Their Causes

Possible Solutions

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Issue #3:

Existing Resources

Gaps and Their Causes

Possible Solutions

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Issue #4:

Existing Resources

Gaps and Their Causes

Possible Solutions

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Issue #5:

Existing Resources

Gaps and Their Causes

Possible Solutions

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Resource Directory

Aphasia SG

www.aphasia.sg | Instagram: @aphasia.sg | aphasiasg@gmail.com

Organised by a team of speech and language therapists, Aphasia SG is a 100% volunteer-run non-profit organisation whose flagship programme is Chit Chat Cafe, a free monthly “pop-up café” for persons with aphasia (PWA) and their caregivers to interact and enjoy a cup of coffee together in a safe space.

Its other flagship programme is the Aphasia SG Choir, which is conducted by music therapist volunteers and that has weekly evening rehearsals at a central location.