I’ve been keeping a distant eye on the recovery of Gabby Giffords after she survived a gunshot wound to the head in 2011. As someone working in rehabilitation, I admire her persistence and determination to keep setting goals. Although she continues to have difficulty with finding words and lifting her right arm, she sets goals […]
Building language early on: ideas for parents
About building language early on There is lots of research indicating that children with solid language skills in the early years will have strong literacy skills through school and in later life. The quantity and quality of words spoken to a child is associated with the strength of a child’s language, vocabulary and iQ later […]
Multiple Sclerosis and Swallowing
Difficulty with swallowing otherwise known as dysphagia can occur among people with Multiple Sclerosis. While more often seen with advanced disease, difficulty with swallowing can occur at any stage. About difficulties with eating and drinking Swallowing difficulties can occur in the oral stage or the pharyngeal phase of swallowing. The stages of swallowing Oral phase (difficulty chewing and […]
World Cup Socceroos Speech Therapy Ideas: ‘Hopping’ Our Way to Better Communication
Every four years there is a little event called the FIFA World Cup (Soccer/Football). It’s a minor affair that attracts (at the last Cup) around 3.2 billion television viewers and 3,170,856 game spectators inside stadiums over 64 matches. Given that just under half the world’s population get involved (and let’s face it, it’s a whole […]
Multiple Sclerosis Day: About MS
What is MS? May 28 is World MS Day. MS stands for multiple sclerosis. The term ‘Sclerosis’ is a Greek word that translates to ‘hard tissue or scar’. Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease. The nerves of the brain and the spinal cord are damaged by a person’s own immune system. This is why MS […]
Multiple Sclerosis and Speech
May 28 is World MS Day. MS stands for multiple sclerosis. The term ‘Sclerosis’ is a Greek word that translates to mean ‘hard tissue or scar’. Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease. The nerves of the brain and the spinal cord are damaged by a person’s own immune system. This is why MS is known […]