Frequently Asked Questions

Question What is SpeechWorks?
Answer SpeechWorks is a group of specialized Speech-Language Pathologists who provide a variety of services to people with communication disorders or delays. The program described here is the Acquired Brain Injury Program: Stroke.

 

Question What treatment is offered to people with communication disorders suffered as a consequence of cerebral vascular accidents (strokes)?
Answer We offer a treatment option that is evidenced-based. This program is dependent on computer stimulation and is systematic, efficient, and effective. As well the program encourages the client to manage their communication disability themselves.

 

Question What disabilities are treated in this program?
Answer This program treats aphasia, apraxia, and dysarthria; all common consequences of strokes.

 

Question What is aphasia?
Answer Aphasia is a language disorder characterized by difficulties in:
  • Understanding what people say
  • Reading
  • Speaking
  • Writing
Aphasia affects social, vocational, and emotional aspects of an individual’s life as well as that of their loved ones.

 

Question What is apraxia?
Answer Apraxia of speech is a speech disorder characterized by a difficulty in planning, initiating and executing speech. A person with apraxia knows what s/he wants to say but his/her brain has difficulty telling the mouth how to move to produce sounds.

 

Question What is dysarthria?
Answer Dysarthria is a motor speech disorder where the muscles of the mouth, face, and respiratory system may become weak, move slowly, or not move at all after a stroke. It is characterized by slowed and slurred speech.

 

Question What makes SpeechWorks different from other treatment programs?
Answer The therapy offered through SpeechWorks emphasizes both impairment-based and functional outcomes. Treatment efficacy is measured with standardized pre- and post-treatment tests. The program is client-led with the interpretation of goals provided by the Speech-Language Pathologist and each client receives a laptop computer with weekly assignments. Upon completion of the treatment program, software is recommended for purchase to promote maintenance of skills and continued recovery.

 

Question Who is a candidate for this program?
Answer Any person who has aphasia, apraxia, or dysarthria as a consequence of a stroke.

 

Question How often does the client attend and how long does the program last?
Answer Clients attend sessions with the Speech-Language Pathologist once a week for hour-long sessions and the treatment program lasts six to twelve weeks. Some people have had additional appointments to plan selection and purchase of personal software.

 

Question How do people access this program?
Answer Self/family referral; professional referral; physician referral.

 

Question When is the best time to intervene?
Answer There is no documented evidence that early intervention produces superior treatment outcomes. There is strong evidence that treatment at any stage in recovery can produce a measurable treatment outcome. Co-occurring conditions including physical and mental health, fatigue, motivation, support for practice etc. all have an impact on treatment outcome.

 

Question Are the changes in communication skills permanent?
Answer There is limited evidence that regular practice is required in order to maintain gains from treatment. In response to this evidence, all those participating in the program are encouraged to purchase appropriate software and maintain their practice commitment.

 

Question What are the options after speech therapy?
Answer After therapy, several options are available:
  • Purchase software for home and maintain practice independently.
  • Continue with speech therapy through SpeechWorks at the client’s or insurers cost.
  • Return to previous public speech therapist.
  • Focus on another aspect of life until ready to return to practice.

 

Question Are there any side effects associated with this program?
Answer There are no documented negative side effects associated with the treatment.

 

Question What are the expectations of the client?
Answer The client is expected to attend their weekly appointments. In addition they are expected to practice between sessions at least thirty minutes a day and they are expected to care for the computer provided.

 

Question When can someone expect to see some results from this treatment program?
Answer This is dependent on the severity and type of communication disorder and compliance with homework. Nine of ten of the most recent clients who participated in the program showed immediate interest, enjoyment, and commitment to practice combined with increased feelings of well being.

 

Question What are the limitations of the treatment program?
Answer Research and clinician experience demonstrates that clients with moderate impairments show more significant changes in functional communication and disability scores. For the clients at both ends of the severity continuum (those with mild or profound deficits) treatment results show improvement in perceived quality of life and functional communication as measured by others.

 

Question What are the qualifications of SpeechWorks?
Answer SpeechWorks is owned by a group of three committed Speech-Language Pathologists who have seventy years experience between them. They are fully registered members of the Manitoba Speech and Hearing Association (MSHA), hold certification with the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (CASLPA) and the American Speech-Language Association (ASHA). They have presented papers, lectures, and workshops at the provincial level and nationally at conferences in Canada, the U.S., and England. The owners have affiliation agreements with universities who provide Master Level programs and have areas of interest that have contributed significantly to their levels of working knowledge with select disorders of communication.

 

Question Who provides the treatment?
Answer The primary therapist, Allison Baird, has been providing technology based intervention since 2000. The purpose of her first grant was to replicate a study published in The Archives of Physical Medicine which evaluated the effectiveness of computer based intervention with people with left cerebral vascular accident (left sided stroke). The results of the replication study were significant at P > .001.

See information about Allison Baird on her website: www.aphasiaworks.com.

On occasion, the practice has provided practicum experiences to university students at the end of their graduate level program. These students require constant supervision and only treat or assess in the presence of a registered Speech-Language Pathologist.

 

Question How was SpeechWorks developed?
Answer SpeechWorks was created with the help of five grants from different agencies. Students require constant supervision and only treat or assess in the presence of a registered Speech-Language Pathologist.