Aphasia - The Silent Disability

Article submitted by by Karen Tucker, Executive Director of the Adler Aphasia Center.
For more information, she can be reached at 201-368-8585 or by e-mail: ktucker@adleraphasiacenter.org.

Imagine what it would be like to be with a group of friends and you could not participate in the conversation because you could not find the words, speech was difficult, and/or the words you were hearing sounded foreign to you.. However, your intelligence is intact and you know what you want to say, but can not get the words out. Your friends and family become very frustrated and discouraged when trying to interact with you and soon do not include you, or simply just ignore you. You lose your job, friends, and possibly family members.

This condition is called aphasia. It occurs after a stroke, head injury, brain tumor, etc. This type of trauma can affect the language centers of the brain leaving a permanent disability in areas of communication; producing and/or understanding language.. More than 1,000,000 Americans have aphasia- more than those with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, or muscular dystrophy. Approximately 30% of the 600,000 Americans who suffer a stroke each year will acquire aphasia.

The Adler Aphasia Center addresses the needs of people with aphasia. This not for profit center, located in Maywood, NJ, is the metropolitan area's first dedicated aphasia support and community center offering information, programs, workshops, lectures and other opportunities for support and empowerment. Mike and Elaine Adler founded this Center in August, 2003, to assist individuals with aphasia and their caregivers.

Mike Adler, the CEO of a global corporation, was a brilliant communicator. But, after suffering a stroke in 1993 (diagnosed with aphasia), he was devastated by his loss of communicative functioning. No professional could recommend centers or support groups to help the Adlers rebuild their lives. The need clearly existed for a center of this type to be designed and developed. From their own frustrating experience, the Adlers were determined to help others. Empowering, enhancing and enriching the lives of people with aphasia and their caregivers is their vision as they assist them to 'get on with their lives.'