Medically reviewed by Sarah Seeman, OTR/L — written by PLAYWORK.
Aphasia is a language disorder that can occur after a stroke or traumatic brain injury. It affects a person’s ability to speak, read, and write.
Aphasia can be so severe as to make communication with the patient almost impossible, or it can be very mild. It may affect mainly a single aspect of language use, such as the ability to retrieve the names of objects, or the ability to put words together into sentences, or the ability to read. More commonly, however, multiple aspects of communication are impaired, while some channels remain accessible for a limited exchange of information.
The good news is that advances in technology have made it possible to use games to help treat aphasia. Here are some of the advantages of using games Aphasia Therapy:
1. Games are engaging and fun: Games can provide an engaging and enjoyable experience for people with aphasia. They can help motivate them to practice their language skills and stay engaged in the process of therapy.
2. Games can target specific language skills: Games can be tailored to target specific language skills, such as word retrieval,naming, vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension. This can help individuals with aphasia practice specific language skills that they may be struggling with.
In the clip below you see a game in which patient matches words to images while practicing hand movement and strength.
3. Personalized game & practice levels: Games can be tailored to the individual’s needs and skills. This allows for a personalized approach to therapy, which can be more effective and enjoyable for the patient.
4. Repetitive practice: game-based therapy can provide an intense, focused environment that allows the person with aphasia to practice certain skills over and over in a short period of time. This repetition can help to reinforce the skills and allow for faster improvement. Games can also encourage collaboration and competition, which can be motivating for those with aphasia.
5. Bio-Feedback: Games can provide feedback to the patient in real-time, enable tracking of progress and motivating to improve.
6. Available anywhere: Games can be used in a variety of settings, such as in-home therapy, in the clinic, or even remotely via teletherapy. This makes them a very versatile tool for treating aphasia.
Using games to treat aphasia can be a great way to engage and motivate patients to practice and improve their language skills. With the right game, tailored to the individual’s needs and skills, it can be a fun and effective way to help individuals with aphasia regain their language abilities.
Learn more about our Aphasia equipment >>
Tags: rehab ball, hand exercise ball, therapy ball