Mindful Aphasia-Apraxia Treatment: Exploiting Neuroplasticity - William Connors, M.A., CCC-SLP, Certified TCC provider

Estimates are that more than 2 million citizens of Canada and the USA continue to endure the hope-robbing and independence-depriving effects of aphasia and its related disorders. This highly interactive presentation shared with SLPs innovative treatment protocols, materials and technology-based tools that exploit neuroplasticity to enhance clinical skills and assist in the integration of existing scientific evidence and patient values into aphasia rehabilitation. The presentation format included: lecture, discussion and active participation. It also included the demonstration of and participation in real-time distance therapy (telepractice) and demonstration videos. Techniques to implement clinical, formative assessment and to facilitate data collection were presented as well smart ways to address weaknesses in the cognitive underpinnings for language recovery such as verbal working memory, flexibility of thought, problem solving and attention skills. Areas of focus also included treatments specific to: initiating self reliance and independent practice; training coaches; apraxia; auditory comprehension; alexia; letter-by-letter reading; agraphia; keyboarding; verbal working memory; attention; cost-benefit of intensive aphasia treatment; critical elements of acute vs. ongoing treatment; use of groups; and working with younger-generation clients with aphasia. The workshop is appropriate for all clinicians of all experiential levels including those focusing on school-age children.