Essay --

Cerebrovascular Accidents (CVA) are the leading cause of disability among adults in the United States. This condition affects 700,000 annually, and approximately one person every 45 seconds suffers a stroke(University Hospital Stroke Center, 2013). A cerebrovascular accident normally affects one side of the brain. The left hemisphere of the brain is mainly responsible for controlling one’s ability to speak and understand language. (Manasco, 2013)Therefore, if the left hemisphere is altered by a stroke, disorders of language, such as aphasia, may result. Individuals who are affected by left CVA often struggle to comprehend spoken and written language and/or control the musculature that assists in swallowing and speaking efficiently. Problems that may ensue depend on the location and severity of the stroke. This poses a challenge for speech and language pathologists as they consider strategies for therapy. Recent findings regarding principles of neuralplasticity emphasize the importance of learning strategically post trauma, thereby influencing speech therapy practices. Neural plasticity allows for remediation of damaged areas in the brain and provides the opportunity for improving communication skills (Rossini & Forro, 2004). Neuroscience research proposes Experience-Dependent strategies for rehabilitation that have been proven effective in supporting brain reorganization and functional outcome. It is crucial for an SLP to understand the ways in which neuroplasticity is impacted by learning, in order to develop strategies for therapy and to identify behaviors that signal recovery in left CVA patients. Furthermore, therapy practices such as Schuell’s Stimulation Approach, Melodic Intonation Therapy, Constraint-Induced Language The... ...uage Therapy draws attention toward extensive and forced use of verbal language, to thereby improve overall verbal responses for individuals affected by left CVA. Errorless & Errorful Learning Therapy approaches encompass contrasting treatment tactics, however their outcomes bring forth similar speech and language results that signal positive recovery. These approaches share common principles that were derived from concurrent findings regarding the brains inherent plasticity. The future of aphasia treatment provides hope for recovery as research and technology simultaneously search for greater discoveries concerning neuroplasticity and language learning. For speech language pathologists to perform best practice methods of diagnosis and intervention in left CVA populations, knowledge of neuroplasticity and typical therapy practices for aphasic patients is necessary. Essay -- Cerebrovascular Accidents (CVA) are the leading cause of disability among adults in the United States. This condition affects 700,000 annually, and approximately one person every 45 seconds suffers a stroke(University Hospital Stroke Center, 2013). A cerebrovascular accident normally affects one side of the brain. The left hemisphere of the brain is mainly responsible for controlling one’s ability to speak and understand language. (Manasco, 2013)Therefore, if the left hemisphere is altered by a stroke, disorders of language, such as aphasia, may result. Individuals who are affected by left CVA often struggle to comprehend spoken and written language and/or control the musculature that assists in swallowing and speaking efficiently. Problems that may ensue depend on the location and severity of the stroke. This poses a challenge for speech and language pathologists as they consider strategies for therapy. Recent findings regarding principles of neuralplasticity emphasize the importance of learning strategically post trauma, thereby influencing speech therapy practices. Neural plasticity allows for remediation of damaged areas in the brain and provides the opportunity for improving communication skills (Rossini & Forro, 2004). Neuroscience research proposes Experience-Dependent strategies for rehabilitation that have been proven effective in supporting brain reorganization and functional outcome. It is crucial for an SLP to understand the ways in which neuroplasticity is impacted by learning, in order to develop strategies for therapy and to identify behaviors that signal recovery in left CVA patients. Furthermore, therapy practices such as Schuell’s Stimulation Approach, Melodic Intonation Therapy, Constraint-Induced Language The... ...uage Therapy draws attention toward extensive and forced use of verbal language, to thereby improve overall verbal responses for individuals affected by left CVA. Errorless & Errorful Learning Therapy approaches encompass contrasting treatment tactics, however their outcomes bring forth similar speech and language results that signal positive recovery. These approaches share common principles that were derived from concurrent findings regarding the brains inherent plasticity. The future of aphasia treatment provides hope for recovery as research and technology simultaneously search for greater discoveries concerning neuroplasticity and language learning. For speech language pathologists to perform best practice methods of diagnosis and intervention in left CVA populations, knowledge of neuroplasticity and typical therapy practices for aphasic patients is necessary.