Let's Keep Talking

The HACC funded “Let's Keep Talking” is an innovative therapy service for people with speech and language problems following a stroke. These language disorders include aphasia and apraxia.

Aphasia affects comprehension, verbal expression, reading and writing to varying degrees.

Apraxia is a motor planning problem, which affects the ability to produce sound, words and sentences in sequence.

Our Aim

The “Let's Keep Talking” program is very different from that of a traditional speech pathologist role. Rather than focussing on impairment (speech, language, swallowing and so on), the program is concerned with the client's functional communication, participation in social situations and quality of life. The aim of the group is to address the social isolation that is associated with communication impairment.

“Let's Keep Talking” groups allow people with aphasia:

• opportunities to communicate with assistance
• to actively interact with others in a social situation
• to express their opinions and concerns
• to regain some control over their lives.

Sessions offer facilitated conversation in the group setting, using gesture, drawing, writing and visual materials to compensate for limited verbal communication and comprehension problems. The beauty of a group setting is that more time is allowed for clients to express themselves. People feel supported in their efforts to communicate.