Chippewa Valley Aphasia Group

1-2014 Practice, Practice, Practice

The CVAG is following a year long plan to explore ways to practice communication. Practice is the key to mastering important skills. Our aphasia group sessions are dedicated to helping group members learn about current activities for language/communication practice. We describe practice activities, steps involved with practice, and the benefit of practice. We are following the principle that practice should be meaningful and motivating. We also talk about intensity and everyday use of practice.

Conversation practice was fun and dynamic! We have enjoyed practicing conversation in pairs, small groups and over FaceTime.

We have now begun practicing requests and comments while playing a card game. The communication within this Language Action Game isn’t as wide ranging as during conversation. Members are required to limit their communication to particular phrases, and to practice these phrases repetitively.

This game is played like “Go Fish,” where individuals take turns asking another for a particular card. “ [name] do you have the [ object]” If the other player has the card requested, they respond, “yes [name] I do.” Or if not “No,[name], I do not have the [ object ] Go Fish”. Barriers on the table make it easier for group members to hold or arrange their cards on the table.

We designed our own version of the game, following Christine Virion’s excellent ideas listed in “Go Aphasia” (2008). She suggested increasing the difficulty of required phrases as individuals mastered simpler steps. Our CVAG volunteers were very creative in building a three level game using photographs of local people, places and activities.

Group members say they enjoy the predictability of this kind of practice. Members feel challenged by the increasing difficulty of the game. They have mentioned improved “focus” during the activity and improved accuracy in saying member’s names through this repetitive practice.

11-2013

We are in the midst of a unit involving Conversational Practice.  During our group sessions we spent some time talking about good conversations that our members have had. We talk about troubles they may have run in to. Troubles aren’t just message problems. Sometimes conversational troubles cause people to feel “pressured” and like they want to quit the conversation.  We discuss ways those conversation troubles could be “repaired” so the conversation can move on.

Before we break up into small groups we remind folks of ways to make conversations “more satisfying”. CVAG staff helps members with:

–          Preparing a few questions.

–          Listing recent activities or photos

–         Reminding members to “extend” conversational topics with comments, such as “Tell me more”.

As conversations begin, we ask members to share what they’d like to work on.  After a few minutes we “freeze” the conversations and talk about balance, interesting topics and how the conversation “feels”.  When conversations are over we review topics, successes and feelings of comfort, and talk about what members may want to work on in the future.

 Distance Conversations:

The CVAG is pretty “wired.” Most of our members use iPads.  Just for fun we decided to practice conversation over Face Time.   We made Face Time contact with friends in Iowa, in the Eau Claire area and near Spooner Wisconsin.  We arranged things so that group members would “watch” a FaceTime conversation and afterwards we would discuss topics, balance, and comfort.

Following Face Time conversations, we debriefed as a group to express and discuss feelings—including both successes and challenges. Group members also offered advice for the conversation partners. We loved this variation to conversation practice!  The connections with people outside our area ended with exchange of addresses, emails, and some texting from all group members.

We are excited by the possibilities of more regional connections with people with aphasia.

10-01-2013

Aphasia distorts the message, and aphasia affects how you feel!

The Chippewa Valley Aphasia Group is following a curriculum that gives our group members a chance to review resources and practice together.  This process will help our members to define what they want to practice and how they may practice on their own.

We are exploring together how practicing may help your messages to be more efficient, and how practicing may help you to feel more confident.

The CVAG staff encourages our members to follow some basic principles for our practice:

A. Be Prepared

B. Get in the ballpark   (follow a little structure but be flexible)

C. Do it a lot

D. A little review can help build a plan.

We chose Conversation Practice for our first unit.  We spent a bit of time talking about conversation topics, what “troubles” can happen in conversation, and how “troubles” may be managed.  We agreed that most satisfying conversations have a balance of contributions to the topic and tolerance for occasional troubles.

Our group practice involves some important Preparation. We encourage group members to make lists of activities or use photos of interest when preparing for a conversation.  These lists or photos can serve as topics of conversation.  Next we encourage Partner Support. We offer suggestions and demonstrate how to wait, listen and to use all modalities when in conversation.  Finally, we encourage Flexibility. If a new topic arises, follow along and contribute as best as you can.  We imagine that Practicing Conversation is like putting pennies in a cup, and the contributions of both partners add up!

9-2013

All CVAG members have been involved in Speech Therapy. Our group enjoyed talking about what those sessions were like.  What is remembered most by CVAG members is the relationship that they had with their Speech Therapist.  Details on the skills taught and how those skills were practiced were not so easily recalled. When individual therapy ended, members say, they “wished for more therapy.” However, members were not necessarily clear about what more therapy would involve.

This fall the Chippewa Valley Aphasia Group set out on a new journey.  A journey inspired by Elizabeth B.s’ story and directed by many group members’ interests in communication practice.

Throughout life, people practice everything from tying shoes, to penmanship, to dance steps, to swimming strokes.  Learning a task depends on one’s interest, capacity, and sometimes instruction.  Practice involves specific actions, including the repetition and use of the skill in meaningful contexts.

The CVAG staff developed plans to provide practice in the following areas this year:

1. Conversation Practice
2. Constraint guided Practice
3. Workbook Practice: including exploration  of online resources for practice

Conversation Practice

We chose “conversation practice” to start because it is something that everyone wants to do, and because making conversation “work” is a tricky task. Our focus included exploration of the kinds of practice that will help conversation to be more satisfying.

6-2013: Part I

Stories from our life experiences can help us better understand ourselves and each other.  Our Aphasia Group follows a tradition of listening, asking questions and thinking together when a member tells their story.

In May of 2013, Elizabeth, a volunteer with the Chippewa Valley Aphasia Group, shared her story with us.  Elizabeth experienced a brain injury following a skiing accident. She discussed the different phases of recovery. She began by describing the disappointment of not being able to return to her “previous life.” We engaged in discussion about emotional recovery following injury.  She shared about her family’s words of encouragement and the hard road of rehabilitation.

She talked about her reactions to her family’s and therapists’ advice and instruction. She discussed how her attitude toward recovery has changed with time. She said that her relationships with family and therapists fostered confidence and encouraged her to “keep improving.” She gradually found a new perspective.  As she improved, Elizabeth began to “practice” independently in order to support her recovery.  “One of the important lessons that I have learned along the way, is to pursue new interests in small steps”, she says.

Elizabeth expressed gratitude for the patience and creativity of her Speech Therapist. We asked Elizabeth about her “improvement” during and after rehabilitation. She said that being challenged to try new activities and persisting in practice was helpful. Elizabeth described her adventures in glassblowing, art, helmet safety speeches, weight lifting, and ceramics. Through trying new things, Elizabeth found new meaningful activities.

Elizabeth’s story was much appreciated by the Chippewa Valley Aphasia Group. Members expressed admiration for her courage and for sharing her story. Everyone could identify with her experiences.  Our group members expressed interest in learning more about using a “small step” approach to make choices and practice.

6-2013: Part II

Following Elizabeth’s story, we explored how our members’ stories relate. In small groups, we shared discussion on experiences in therapy and emotional recovery. Members shared their successes and challenges during recovery, and the lessons they learned along the way. Groups reflected on people and experiences that have aided them in the development of a new identity while in the process of recovery.

A member of the Dane County Aphasia Group, Naomi B., shared her poem, New Normal. Her poem compares her impatience to return to her normal activities following stroke with the change in perspective she has gained through rehabilitation. “My new normal teaches patience. I can: read and understand deeply, it just takes time; write a letter or beautiful poetry, it just takes practice.”

Group members related to the fact that recovery is a process with no end, and that we are always learning and growing. One member shared the following picture that may illustrate our feeling as we cope with and learn to compensate for our challenges.

We believe that Elizabeth’s story offers valuable lessons for many others.  She has agreed to let the Chippewa Valley Aphasia Group record her story to share with other Aphasia Groups, families, and volunteers.

Watch this Website for further updates!

5-2013

The Chippewa Valley Aphasia Group met on Friday April 5 for conversation and adventures with the iPad.  We were pleased to have 3 friends visiting us from Madison.

Conversation with friends is always good!

Since January our group has been “experimenting” with the iPad.  Operating the iPad is not too challenging.

But using the iPad to learn, connect and practice is what we want to do.

We structure our sessions to “introduce” an App or a website in large group, then we breakup into smaller groups to “play”….explore,

experiment, ask questions and make comments.   Finally, we return to large group and share our ideas.

This Friday we “played” with the Dictate feature.  Using Dictate, you can speak and the iPad types!   It is fun to see your own words in print.

We also explored a photo archive website called “Shorpy”.   These photos are from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s.  They show scenes from work, sports and daily life.  We had some great conversations about these scenes.  In preparation for this activity group members brought their own pictures or drawings to describe scenes from their daily activity.

The Chippewa Valley Aphasia Group offers therapy provided in a social setting. Conversation is key, but access to information and opportunity to try new things is encouraged.

During the month of March, the Chippewa Valley Aphasia Group was introduced to the website Pinterest.  The idea of sharing ideas, projects, recipes, and more using pictures was an interesting concept to explore.

Basic navigation was introduced, but the majority of the time was spent on looking at pictures, demonstration of features, and practice with pinning pictures to a page. There are lots of categories to explore pictures/ideas. The group focused on recipes, outdoor ideas, and funny pictures.

Some potting ideas for a tiered group of pots and a homemade mosquito catcher were group favorites. Several members of the group are ready to try these ideas this summer.

After practicing, there was “lots of interest in Pinterest,” and the group members were interested in having a Pinterest club in the second quarter.

Michele Knutson

Kathy McAlister, a certified Yoga Instructor met with aphasia group members for three sessions on January 6^th, 13^th and the 20^th.   

She provided some ideas and practice for meditation, visualization and gentle yoga.  

We worked on awareness of our whole body including the parts affected by the stroke.   

 We learned some techniques to help with increasing our energy and feeling of wellness. 

Click here for Aphasia Friendly Yoga Exercises 

Have you ever wondered how to smoke salmon or make a spice rub for chicken?    Rob Gaulke, or as I refer to him, “Chef Master” shared his expertise in grilling with a few of our group members.  

 Rob prepared a spice rub from start to finish with the group.   He prepared one of his favorites,  known as barbecue spice rub.   Rob demonstrated the process of smoking fish including the importance of the cooking chamber and the firebox.   He shared techniques for using a “smoker box” including apple wood chips.  Rob prepared the salmon on his grill the morning of and brought it to group for everyone to taste.   The salmon was delicious!!!  

 People were so interested in Rob’s grilling that he prepared a session on appetizers.   He prepared the Puerto Rican Pig Powder for some chicken wings.   HMMM these were also tasty.   I prepared with the group a nutritious Black Bean Dip with fresh cilantro.   The group members then directed our chef to prepare another batch.   The 2^nd batch was better than the first.   The entire group prepared a nutritious dessert,   “Cocoa-Nut” Bananas.   We were all laughing with the process of making these silly treats.

 It was then time for everyone to share their favorite recipes.   Bernice shared her famous Swedish Meat Balls and of course we couldn’t eat just one.    Mary shared a recipe for Cherry Tomato Horsd’ourvers and Stuffed Mushrooms which looked amazing.   Joan shared one of her all time favorites that Bud appreciates to this day, her Bakery’s Chile.   This chili is made with round steak, garlic and red bell peppers.   We all agreed that this would taste great on a fall day.  

The Chef Master then presented his “Top Ten.”  Kudos to Rob for a terrific job.   Fun was had by all.     

Rob’s “Top Ten!”

 1.  Need two Tbsp ?  Use your 1/8 cup coffee measure  2Tsp  =  1/8 C   Its quicker and easier

 2. Keep high oil items like walnuts and pecans in your freezer.  The good fats in them will not go rancid as fast in a cold place.

 3. Lay aluminum foil over the bottom of your oven.  If something spills on them; it will save you some scrubbing.

 4. Leave the skin on your fruits and vegetables for a change.  They carry some nutrients as well as a different flavor element.

 5. Try ground turkey in some cooking.  It is usually lower in fat than beef and pork.    (italian sausage and breakfast sausage are possible i.e. @ allrecipes.com)

 6. Browning some ground beef?  Do a bunch at once, and freeze what you aren’t using today.

 7. Freeze fresh fish in a ziplock with water    Helps prevent freezer burn      Chicken also

 8. Cut soft cheese or dough with dental floss.  Unwaxed, unflavored please.

 9. Give your coffe grinder a second job.  Turn it into a spice grinder

 10.  Avoid getting into trouble for #9 by taking a 1/8 cup of oatmeal for a spin after you finish grinding spices.  Static electricity will take most of the spice residue out.  Wipe the rest out with a cotton ball if you need to.

Submitted by

Mary Beth Clark

Aphasia Group Volunteer