FAQ
This is a list of common questions we receive from our customers. If you need more information or would like to discuss aphasia, please contact us directly or join Kim's Blog.
Which Level is right for me?
Simply stated, Level 1 DVDs are for people who have difficulty saying Single words.
Level 2 DVDs are for people who can say single words, but have difficulty putting the words together in phrases. Call us (888-204-6020) if you have more questions. We are happy to help.
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Who can benefit from these DVDs?
Created by a speech therapist, these DVDs are designed to help individuals with moderate to severe Expressive aphasia. An individual that has difficulty expressing SINGLE words (such as naming objects or saying someone's name) could benefit from the Level 1 videos.
A person who can say single words, but cannot say short phrases could benefit from the Level 2 videos.
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Will these DVDs conflict with my current speech therapy?
Absolutely not. In fact, these DVDs were originally created for a specific individual with expressive aphasia to supplement his speech therapy. These programs can be viewed on the individual's "off" days from therapy to help carry over progress from one session to the next. These videos incorporate actual aphasia therapy techniques currently used in out-patient speech therapy sessions across the U.S. Please refer your therapist to our site.
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What is aphasia?
As defined by the National Aphasia Association, aphasia is "the impairment of the ability to use or comprehend words, usually acquired as a result of a stroke or other brain injury". Some individuals with aphasia have deficits with expressive aphasia (what is said) and others with receptive language (what is understood). In some cases, both expressive language and receptive language are significantly impaired. The severity of expressive aphasia can range from a person with severe aphasia having difficulty expressing single words to someone with mild aphasia being able to carry on a conversation with only occasional word finding problems (anomia).
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What are the advantages of Video Therapy versus computer therapy programs?
Strokes that result in aphasia occur in the left side of the brain. Many times this has an adverse effect on the right side of the body, which creates motor skill challenges for right handed people. Although some computer programs are available for aphasia, most patients need something less physically demanding than using a mouse and keyboard. The ease and simplicity of these videos answer this need. With a video, minimal assistance is required of the patient or caregiver. Our videos provide countless therapy sessions and DVD's are very portable. We have also found that many older people do not own or may not be comfortable with a computer, which also limits their options.
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Are these programs just for people who have had a stroke?
No. Although stroke is the leading cause of expressive aphasia, it can be caused by other means such as a brain tumor, fall, gunshot wound, or other trauma to the brain.
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How often should these DVDs be watched?
There is no set frequency for watching the programs. However, for optimal results we recommend viewing them 3-5 times a week. For example, if receiving speech therapy services use the videos 3 times a week. Watch them on the days between the therapy sessions. If not receiving speech therapy services, viewing the DVDs 5 days a week may be more beneficial.
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What are the Therapy Goals of the videos?
The Goal of our videos is to enhance communication skills at a word level and short phrase level. Once progress has been reached where cues are not needed to name simple objects and production of simple phrases has improved, the goal of these videos have been achieved. The length of time needed to achieve this goal varies from person to person.
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My father had a stroke two years ago. Can he still benefit from these videos?
Although researchers believe that most significant progress is made within the first year after the stroke, recovery can still continue after this time period. Our videos can be beneficial in helping a person progress with his communication skills even at the two-year mark. However, if available, please do not ignore the importance of therapy with a licensed speech-language pathologist as your primary source of recovery. SLP's are trained to evaluate and develop a treatment plan that is specific for each individual affected by aphasia.
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I'm still not sure if my husband is a candidate for these videos. How can I be sure?
You can contact us by email at help@communicationpartner.com and inquire about your specific case. A licensed Speech-Language Pathologist will answer your questions and help you decide if your loved one could benefit from these videos.
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Do you ship orders outside the United States?
Yes, we have shipped all over the world. Additional shipping charges will apply depending on the destination. We ship via the US Postal Service. There is no additional charge for shipping to Canada or Mexico.
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Do you have videos in SPANISH or any other languages?
No. At this time, our therapy videos are only available in English.
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Will the videos work on a computer or a portable dvd player?
Yes. The dvd's have been formatted to work on computers as well as portable players. The dvd's should work great, unless the device being used is too old (about 10+ years) to accept the technology.
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