June is the period of the year when we turn our attention to the disease Aphasia.
Did you know that after a brain injury (most often after a stroke) you may not be able to communicate? Imagine that you speak, but no one understands the "words" that come out of your mouth... or you are present at a conversation, but you cannot understand what others are talking about... or... There are many different scenarios, but they will all lead you to the narrowest and most terrifying prison – the one of being locked in your own body!
Which disease causes this?
The disease behind this is called aphasia. To understand what this disease is, it is necessary to imagine the human brain, in which there are many different centers responsible for different elements of our ability to communicate. Depending on the affected area, a person loses a corresponding ability, for example, to decode speech (understand). This disease is poorly known, but unfortunately seriously widespread in the country. Every year, more than 15,000 Bulgarians are affected by aphasia. Many of them are unfortunately doomed to spend the rest of their lives in this state. This is because there is no treatment funded by the Health Insurance Fund in the country, the specialists who treat this condition are few and not very popular.
Who are the specialists who can help us?
The specialists who help to overcome this condition are speech therapists-aphasialogists. These are speech therapists who have undergone special training for the treatment of aphasia. In Sofia, for example, there are about 10 of them, and there are cities in the country where there are no such specialists.
Is aphasia curable?
In most cases, the consequences of aphasia can be overcome. This is because the human brain has the so-called. "neuroplasticity" or the ability to cultivate abilities in new brain sectors. Thus, although it is difficult, it is possible to learn to understand the speech of others again.
How is the treatment carried out?
Initially, the patient's status is taken. Based on the condition found, the speech therapist-aphasiologist, prepares an individual treatment plan, which is based on several sessions a week, each with a duration tailored to the individual capabilities of the patient. The duration of therapy may vary, but it is mandatory to prepare a progress report on the goals set in the individual plan.
In Aphasia Awareness Month, Elena Beykova and her colleagues from the Bulgarian National Radio helped us learn more about this disease, where the Chairperson of the Association for Stroke and Aphasia, together with our member, speech therapist-aphasiologist, Marina Arnaut, were guests in the Horizon Program. Listen to their conversation:
https://bnr.bg/horizont/post/102010987/specialisti-shte-nastoavame-za-klinichna-pateka-za-lechenie-na-afazia