Often times in the treatment of aphasia families and clients are informed that significant language recovery only takes place during the first year following the brain injury (whether caused by stroke, closed head injury, illness, etc.). At the University of Michigan Aphasia Program (UMAP) in Ann Arbor, Mich. (www.aphasiahelp.com) we have found otherwise.

Many clients attend UMAP several years after the brain injury that caused their aphasia. These clients continue to show improvement in their language skills well beyond the acute stage of their injury.

UMAP has a noteworthy record of accomplishment in treating people with aphasia. It was founded in 1947 at the end of WWII to treat returning combat veterans with head injuries. It is the oldest and most established program of its kind in the nation. UMAP conducts intensive therapy, with 8-10 clients from across the country participating in six-week sessions that are scheduled throughout the year, providing a small and highly individualized program with a nearly one-to-one ratio of staff to clients. 

“We regularly see clients who have been told by their medical professionals that they should not expect further recovery,” said Clinical Services Manager Mimi Block, M.S., CCC-SLP. “Most clients who receive intensive therapy at UMAP show gains in their ability to communicate and to compensate for their deficits.”

“For many of our clients and caregivers, and even medical professionals who treat people with aphasia, this is surprising information,” said Block. “Gains in communication give hope not only to the client, but also to the family members. This hope enables the client and the family members to pursue social activities in their home communities, which leads to an enhanced quality of life.”

UMAP uses two diagnostic tools to evaluate clients before and after treatment to determine their progress – the Boston Naming Test and a Picture Description task.

Program outcomes indicate that most clients show recognizable improvement in their verbal skills. There is no evidence that age, gender, or level of education affects the amount of improvement that clients experience. Additionally, program outcomes show no evidence that the time post-onset is a factor in the level of improvement made during UMAP’s intensive therapy program.