Aphasia Awareness: The National Aphasia Association · Adler Aphasia Center · #AphasiaTogether · Actor Bruce Willis · Donate
Source: MSN.com
The month of June is designated to National Aphasia Awareness to raise awareness about stroke and aphasia in the community. Over two and a half million stroke and brain injury survivors live with aphasia in the U.S. It is more common than cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and Parkinson’s disease, yet most have never heard of the word aphasia. In New Jersey alone, there are estimates of more than 70,000 people who have been diagnosed with aphasia.
Aphasia is a condition that affects the ability to communicate, both verbally and in writing. It can affect one’s capacity to speak, write, and understand language in general, including expression and comprehension.
Aphasia usually occurs following a stroke or a head injury, though it can also happen gradually as a result of a degenerative condition, including a slow-growing brain tumor or another disease, such as Alzheimer’s. A person suffering from aphasia may have trouble completing sentences, or they might say sentences that don’t make sense. They might also forget words, substitute words, and even use unrecognizable words.
Therapies often used to improve language functions (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) includes constraint-induced therapy (CIT), melodic intonation therapy (MIT), and telerehabilitation. consequence-based. The aim is to improve communication and engage caregivers, such as family members in the process.
In March 2022, it was revealed that Bruce Willis was retiring from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia. Rumer Willis, daughter of Willis and Demi Moore, reported, “As a family we wanted to share that our beloved Bruce Willis has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities. As a result of this, and with much consideration, Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him.”