Question #1: Did you know that PSHSA is developing specialized eLearning for the Aphasia Institute?

Yes, we are building an exciting, introductory module that will promote a successful approach called SCA™– or supported conversation for adults with Aphasia. The targeted learner for this training are those health care professionals (i.e. clinicians/speech-language pathologists/nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and social workers) who are involved with patients with Aphasia.

Question #2: And do you know what Aphasia is?

Aphasia although not widely known and understood is often an invisible communication disorder that results from damage or injury to language parts of the brain (i.e. stroke, brain tumours, Dementia).

Some quick facts:

• There are over 100,000 Canadians living with Aphasia today
• 1 in 3 stroke survivors are diagnosed with Aphasia
• The number of people with this devastating disorder is expected to increase significantly as the population ages. It’s more common in older adults, although we are seeing it in younger adults, particularly those who have had a stroke.

Aphasia gets in the way of a person’s ability to use or understand words. It masks a person’s competency and intelligence, impacting the ability to connect with others through conversation. SCA™, a life-changing technique our client, the Aphasia Institute (www.aphasia.ca), has developed, provides knowledge and techniques to guide health care professionals and clinicians on how to work with patients with Aphasia to help them overcome communication barriers. “Communicating with those who know more than they can say”.

Question #3 – How will this eLearning help improve the quality of care for patients with Aphasia?

An innovative education tool designed to support health care professionals, this eLearning will enhance knowledge and skills on how to work with clients with Aphasia and to help them communicate.

The eLearning, consisting of many exciting elements such as interactivities, assessments, links to other resources, and rich visuals, will engage and motivate the learner to help them increase their comprehension of SCA™. It will include customized video assets that show a person with Aphasia having a supported conversation with a conversation partner.

This self-paced training provides the fundamentals on how to support conversation for adults with aphasia. It is a learning route that can be followed by more advanced face to face training. The Aphasia Institute offers workshops, speakers series and many more resources and life-changing tools. Visit www.aphasia.ca for more information.

This eLearning, free to those in Ontario, is an accessible and efficient approach to keep health care staff educated, knowledgeable, and skilled to provide the best quality care to patients.

Aphasia Institute will be launching this eLearning in February.