Posted on: 27 October 2022
Aphasia support charity, Speak With IT, is set to expand its vital communication recovery services for stroke survivors in West Yorkshire following investment from the Stroke Quality Improvement for Rehabilitation (SQuIRe) project.
Speak With IT has secured almost £11K to fund a pilot project called ‘The App Club’, which will take place at Dewsbury Health Centre and give stroke survivors who have developed aphasia or apraxia, access to nine weeks of speech, language and communication therapy.
Aphasia and apraxia affects over 350,000 people in the UK, yet it is believed that almost 85% of the public have never heard of the complex condition. The leading cause of aphasia is stroke, with a third of the UK’s 1.2 million stroke survivors acquiring the condition.
The pilot scheme follows research from Speak With IT, which found that the wait time for stroke survivors between early supported discharge and community speech and language therapy can be significant, which can have an impact on their recovery.
The App Club will be funded by the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Integrated Stroke Delivery Network (ISDN), which is part of the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership.
The ISDN works to transform and improve stroke care by bring services together to design optimal stroke pathways, from pre-hospital to early supported discharge, community specialist stroke-skilled rehabilitation and life after stroke support. The project also supports the implementation of the Integrated Community Stroke Services (ICSS) model, which addresses gaps in stroke recovery services and priority areas in the region.
Trained speech and language therapists will work on key communication goals, using a variety of computer therapy programs and supported conversation techniques. Each participant will also be loaned an iPad for at least three months, to continue their recovery at home using speech therapy apps.
James Major, CEO of Speak With IT, said: “Aphasia and apraxia are very complex communication and language disorders that require ongoing specialist support. The App Club aims to bridge the gap between a stroke survivor’s discharge from hospital and finding speech and language support, which can be challenging. The SQuIRe funding from the ISDN will enable us to enhance the existing services, supporting those who need it most upon discharge.”
Matt Spencer, Manager of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate ISDN, said: “It is thought that a third of people who have a stroke experience aphasia, and the condition can affect many aspects of a persons’ daily life including speaking and understanding language, reading, writing, using money, calculating sums, and telling the time. The ISDN is proud to support this innovative project, one that will hopefully benefit many stroke survivors requiring specialist support for aphasia and apraxia across West Yorkshire and Harrogate.”
How Speak With IT helps…
Speak With IT helps those living with aphasia to work on key communication goals with the support of speech and language therapists. The charity matches patients with a trained volunteer who works with them on a one-to-one basis, using a variety of computer therapy programs, and supported conversation techniques.
The charity now has 4 aphasia cafes – Leeds, Wakefield, Barnsley and Calderdale. The aphasia café provides an opportunity for people with aphasia and carers to socialise in a supported environment. Other activities include quizzes and games, and sessions focused on arts and crafts. Activities are organised based on the needs of each group.