Person sitting by a lit fireplace holding a red mug of tea and wearing cozy wool socks

5 Tips for Combating the Holiday Blues

Holidays are usually thought of as a joyful time of year. When living with aphasia, this may not always be the case. Holidays can present unique challenges for people living with communication disorders, as well as their caregivers. The Danish concept of hygge is all about enjoying the present moment. In the winter, the days…

Making (and Keeping) New Year’s Resolutions When Living with Aphasia

If you are reading this blog, you or someone close to you most likely has aphasia. It’s a condition that can have a significant influence over your life — from how you communicate to how you engage the world around you. Having New Year’s resolutions can be a great way to change your life in…

Grandparents using a tablet device with their two school-age grandchildren

How to Connect with Your Grandkids During the Holidays

Grandparents and grandkids often spend more time together during the holidays than at any other time during the year. For many, it can be a struggle to communicate with grandkids in a meaningful way. This can be especially true when you have aphasia and communication issues appear to widen the distance between you. Here are…

Multi-generational family sitting on the couch enjoying a television show, drinking and eating snacks

Shows to Binge and Talk About this Holiday Season

Journalists and media writers like to say we’re living in “Peak TV” because there have been a lot of good TV shows recently. But, a lot of the best shows aren’t just aired on traditional networks anymore — many also appear on online streaming services. With the kids and grandkids around for the holidays, these…

Everyday Communication: Ordering Food

When you have aphasia, going out to eat is about more than just filling your stomach. Whether you’re sharing a meal with friends or just grabbing a quick lunch for yourself, communication is a big part of the equation. You’ll need to be able to communicate with your waiter or other restaurant staff. However, with…

Caring for Caregivers: Managing Stress and Emotional Well-being

Having a loved one with aphasia can add stress to the whole family. Many caregivers find themselves with unexpected responsibilities. These can include navigating doctors’ appointments and providing assistance with everyday tasks. If the stroke caused one or both people to stop working, finances can be another big stressor. In a recent survey by Lingraphica,…

Everyday Communication with Aphasia: Meeting People and Breaking the Ice

Meeting new people also doesn’t follow a completely predictable “script” the way ordering food or checking in to a doctor’s appointment does. However, being prepared with some common questions and answers can be very helpful. Some of the most common things to share and ask when breaking the ice include: Introducing yourself “Are you from…

Caregiver Self-Care: Get Better Quality Sleep

Getting enough sleep is one of the biggest lifestyle factors that can improve your wellbeing. Research (and experience) tells us that sleep is very important to our physical and mental health. With enough rest, our brains function better and it’s easier to deal with everyday situations and stresses. However, in a recent survey by Lingraphica,…

Six Free Aphasia-Friendly Video Games

Video games are now one of the most popular forms of entertainment, with some attracting millions of players worldwide. And who doesn’t like playing games? Word games in particular are a great, fun way for people with aphasia and their caregivers to play with words. These games can be downloaded onto a mobile phone or…

How People with Aphasia Can Find New Music and Old Favorites with Streaming Services

Through melodic intonation therapy, music can be a helpful approach for people with non-fluent aphasia. But everyone loves music, and music streaming services make it easier than ever to listen to your favorite songs and musicians. Unlike MP3s, you don’t need to buy and download individual songs. All you need is a good internet connection.…