Update: February 16, 2023 The family of Bruce Willis announced today that the movie star has received an updated diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia, or FTD for short. In a statement, the family said, “Unfortunately, challenges with communication are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces. While this is painful, it is a relief to…
If you’ve seen Lingraphica’s aphasia documentary series, Their Words, then you’ll remember meeting Alyssa Fox. Shortly after turning 20 years old, Alyssa had a massive stroke. She couldn’t walk or talk, but after years of physical, speech, and occupational therapy, she’s writing the rest of her story. We recently had a chance to check in…
Virtual Connections is proud to announce the release of the Aphasia Art & Poetry Book! This book was created by people with aphasia in the Speaking Poetry Virtual Connections Group. Speaking Poetry began in October 2020. Mark Harder, a person with aphasia and Virtual Connections member, asked to help run a poetry session with Dr.…
As the midterm elections in the United States approach, people around the nation are making their Election Day plans. On Tuesday, November 8, Americans will head to the polls to cast their votes and exercise their constitutional rights. Some of those people will have aphasia or other speech or language impairments. Disability can profoundly affect…
On Tuesday, October 25, Senate candidates John Fetterman and Mehmet Oz faced off in a televised debate. Fetterman suffered a stroke in May of this year, and Tuesday’s debate put his post-stroke effects on full display. Politics do not always bring out the best in us. On social media, many were quick to judge Fetterman’s…
Disasters and emergencies interrupt the lives of millions of people every year. In 2021, more than 400 disastrous events related to natural hazards occurred, affecting 100 million people and causing more than 10,000 deaths. These numbers don’t even consider other isolated emergencies, such as house fires. Certain populations, like those who depend on AAC devices,…
12-Year-Old Little League Pitcher Returns Home After Traumatic Brain Injury Anthony Labin, a 12-year-old from New Jersey, is back home and recovering after being hit by a line drive on July 11 during a Little League game. The accident left the boy with aphasia, but reports say “he has made remarkable progress.” See Story Cross-Country…
Amy Russo is Lingraphica’s Video Production Specialist and the driving force behind Their Words: An Aphasia Documentary Series. Here, we take a moment to ask Amy some questions about her goals, motivations, reactions, and more. Aphasia is common, but often unheard of by the general public. Prior to joining Lingraphica, what sort of awareness did…
Unlike many of the more common types of aphasia, primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a type of frontotemporal dementia. As it’s a type of dementia, PPA cannot be cured. In general, it’s thought to be rare. It’s also likely that many people go undiagnosed due to unfamiliarity surrounding the condition, in addition to the often…
In 2011, we launched our midsize tablet called the TouchTalk. In the 10-plus years since, it has become our most popular communication device. We’re thrilled at how the TouchTalk has helped individuals with a variety of speech and language impairments to improve their communication, speech, and quality of life. Over the last decade, the TouchTalk…
