Spain Celebrates Stroke Awareness

Written by Heidi Wardman Friday, 24 April 2009 Spain will recognize Stroke Awareness Day for the first time this year, thanks to the efforts of the Torrevieja Stroke Support Group, founded by Costa Blanca resident Louie Killeen during January 2007, shortly after her husband suffered a stroke, which immediately turned her life upside down. Louie made it her mission to establish a support network and the Torrevieja Stroke Support Group has gone from strength to strength, now providing a professional therapy and rehabilitation programme to stroke survivors and their loved ones located throughout the area. Its success has seen it relocating to a fully equipped, spacious centre, located in the Annex to the rear of the Age Concern building in Urbanization La Siesta, where the group convenes every third Friday, whilst additional Speech Therapy and Social group sessions are held in the interim. Sessions are structured to include a welcome friendship circle and separate therapy groups, according to individual need, with access to the expertise of a fully qualified team, including two Primary Care Nurses, one of whom was commissioned to establish a Stroke Support Centre in the UK, an Occupational Therapist and Group Councillor. SYMPTOMS The Torrevieja Stroke Support Group’s most recent challenge is in promoting the FAST initiative to both international and Spanish communities, to enable people to identify the critical signs and symptoms of an attack. Over 150,000 people in the UK suffer from stroke, a sudden attack on the brain when the blood supply is disrupted, every year. The long-term result and severity of symptoms varies in accordance with which part of the brain has suffered the attack, although there are a number of common signs which reveal themselves when stroke hits, which the UK Stroke Association has identified in its FAST initiative. FAST The Face Arm Speech Test (FAST) is the procedure applied by Paramedics when they are called to a potential stroke situation. FAST examines three specific symptoms: Facial weakness - can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped? Arm weakness - can the person raise both arms? Speech problems - can the person speak clearly and understand what you say? If any or a combination of these symptoms present themselves, then this is where the ‘T’ comes into play- Time to call 112. Delay can result in death or major long-term disabilities, such as paralysis, severe memory loss and communication problems (aphasia). ADVICE The FAST initiative will be among items on the agenda on Stroke Awareness Day, celebrated annually on 12th May in countries throughout Europe. The Torrevieja Stroke Support Group is pleased to announce that the anniversary will also be acknowledged in Spain for the first time in 2009. The group has been supplied with a wealth of materials from the Stroke Association printed in English, whilst Public Relations Officer, Anna Blaun of ‘Clinica Centro’ in Torrevieja has devised an alternative slogan and had materials translated for the benefit of the Spanish audience. The Clinic’s Director, Julio Monje, revealed that it receives many stroke survivors through its doors, many of whom he feels may have responded more positively to rehabilitation had they or loved ones responded swiftly to the symptoms. He said, “The clinic is delighted to work alongside the Stroke Support Group during this project, which we hope will be the first of many.” Subject to approval from the Town Hall, representatives from the two parties are hoping to distribute the materials in the Plaza de la Constitución, Torrevieja, on Stroke Awareness Day, and will be on-hand throughout the morning to answer any questions which residents may have in relation to the issues raised. For further details please email strokesupportgroup@hotmail.com.

PIRACETAM, OTC drug

Piracetam ; i looked into this drug and tried it out, it did increase all of the stated benefits, so i thought i would share. Google the name for personal research and companies that sell by mail.* Piracetam (brand name: Nootropil, Qropi, Myocalm, Dinagen, Synaptine) is a nootropic. It is a dietary supplement which is claimed to enhance

cognition and memory, slow down brain aging, increase blood flow and oxygen to the brain, aid stroke recovery, and improve Alzheimer's, Down syndrome, dementia, and dyslexia, among others._ _Piracetam's chemical name is 2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine acetamide; it shares the same 2-oxo-pyrrolidone base structure with 2-oxo-pyrrolidine carboxylic acid (pyroglutamate). Piracetam is a cyclic derivative of GABA. It is one of the racetams. Piracetam is prescribed by doctors for some conditions, mainly myoclonus,but is used off-label for a much wider range of applications. However, some treat it as a food supplement rather than a drug Piracetam (brand name: Nootropil, Qropi, Myocalm, Dinagen, Synaptine) is a nootropic. It is a dietary supplement which is claimed to enhance cognition and memory, slow down brain aging, increase blood flow and oxygen to the brain, aid stroke recovery, and improve Alzheimer's, Down syndrome, dementia, and dyslexia, among others.Piracetam's chemical name is 2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine acetamide; it shares the same 2-oxo-pyrrolidone base structure with 2-oxo-pyrrolidine carboxylic acid (pyroglutamate). Piracetam is a cyclic derivative of GABA. It is one of the racetams. Piracetam is prescribed by doctors for some conditions, mainly myoclonus,but is used off-label for a much wider range of applications. However, some treat it as a food supplement rather than a drug Piracetam was first synthesized in 1964 by scientists at the Belgian pharmaceutical company UCB led by Dr Corneliu E. Giurgea. The drug was the first of the so-called +nootropics+ ("smart drugs" or "cognitive enhancers"), that is, substances which purportedly enhance mental performance. The term nootropic was coined by Giurgea. Nootropil was launched clinically by UCB in the early 1970s and remains an important product of that company in Europe. Piracetam is primarily used in Europe, Asia, South America and the US. Piracetam is legal to import into the United Kingdom and the United States for personal use with or without prescription. As of June 2006, piracetam is sold in the United States as a dietary supplement. It has become popular as a cognitive enhancement drug among students, who often buy it in bulk as a powder and then consume it with orange or grapefruit juice to mask the strong, bitter taste. A two week regimen of piracetam was found to enhance verbal memory in healthy college students in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.It is used by parents as a treatment for childhood autism, though no study has yet produced results which would support such a use. A couple of vendors offering Piracetam in pill form in the USA include American Nutrition (AmericanNutrition.com) and Cognitive Nutrition (CognitiveNutrition.com). Aging Piracetam appears to reverse the effects of aging in the brains of mice. Piracetam appears to reduce levels of lipofuscin in the rat brain.(Lipofuscin accumulation is a common symptom of aging and alcoholism). Alcoholism Piracetam appears to be effective in treating alcoholism or its symptoms. Alzheimer's and senile dementia Piracetam appears to be effective for improving cognition in Alzheimer's disease and senile dementia patients Stroke, ischemia and symptoms Piracetam has been found to improve cognition after stroke, and reduce symptoms, such as aphasia.It also improves cognition in cases of chronic ischemia. Dyspraxia and Dysgraphia Due to its supposed effect on nerves and muscles it is sometimes prescribed as an aid to muscle or dexterity training, particularly in cases of dysgraphia and dyspraxia. There has not been a specific study as to whether it is beneficial in this aspect. Vinpocetine, another purported nootropic with which piracetam is indirectly synergesic, is confirmed to help with these conditions to a certain degree. Schizophrenia Piracetam improves cognitive performance of schizophrenics as it does with non-schizophrenics, but does not improve or worsen the chronic schizophrenia disease state. Brand names Nootropil, Qropi, Myocalm, Dinagen, Oikamid, Synaptine Due to the effect of piracetam on platelet aggregation, caution is recommended in patients with underlying disorders of hemostasis, major surgery or severe hemorrhage. Abrupt discontinuation of treatment should be avoided as this may induce myoclonic or generalised seizures in some myoclonic patients. As piracetam is almost exclusively excreted by the kidneys caution should be exercised in treating patients with known renal impairment. In renally impaired and elderly patients, an increase in terminal half-life is directly related to renal function as measured by creatinine clearance. Dosage adjustment is therefore required in those with mild to moderate renal impairment and elderly patients with diminished renal function.

What is Proloquo2Go?

Proloquo2Go™ is a new product from AssistiveWare that provides a full-featured communication solution for people who have difficulty speaking. It brings natural sounding text-to-speech voices, up-to-date symbols, powerful automatic conjugations, a default vocabulary of over 7000 items, full expandability and extreme ease of use to the iPhone and iPod touch.

Fred Berry

Berry died on October 21, 2003, at his Los Angeles home where he was recovering from a stroke.

SmallTalk for Aphasia SmallTalk for Aphasia

SmallTalk for Aphasia

SmallTalk for Aphasia Download on iTunes
Published 2 days ago
Lingraphica
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Designed for people with aphasiaan impairment of the ability to speak SmallTalk provides a vocabulary of pictures and videos that talk in a natural human voice.

SmallTalk contains a starter set of icons to introduce you to the Lingraphica system of aphasia communication. When used together with the Lingraphica speech-generating device, it allows you to personalize and expand the vocabulary to thousands of words.

This aphasia software lets you take along a set of words and phrases to use in everyday situations such as shopping, doctor's appointments, phone conversations, or emergencies. It's an easy way to make your wishes known or simply practice frequently used words.

SmallTalk also contains mouth-position videos for practice and self-cuing, great for stroke rehabilitation and recovery of speech.

Mike Harden: City native finds love, life's work in woods

Sunday, April 5, 2009 3:35 AM
By Mike Harden

Ed Fassig, 82, has lived in the Hocking Hills for 40 years, writing about the area and making furniture. The Columbus native's life has taken big turns recently.

The Fassig family

Ed Fassig, 82, has lived in the Hocking Hills for 40 years, writing about the area and making furniture. The Columbus native's life has taken big turns recently.
ATHENS, Ohio -- Dusk had descended on the early summer day when Mimi Fassig entered the unlighted house in the Hocking Hills and called Ed's name.

"I'm glad you're here," she heard him respond. "I didn't want to die alone."

"You're not going to die," she said. "I won't let you."

Flown to Columbus, Ed Fassig spent eight hours in surgery to repair damage from an aortic aneurysm that had given way.

Mimi, cautioned by cardiovascular specialists that he might not survive his first 24 hours out of the operating room, was heartened only after the ventilator tube was removed and Ed squeezed her hand, assuring her, "I won't leave you."

The saga of Mimi and Ed began 28 years ago. She was a commercial photographer in Athens. He was a woodsman and furniture maker, a man who -- born on the fringe of Downtown Columbus -- had long yearned to be away from the crush of the city.

Ed's Logan friend Bud Simpson surmised, "Sometimes, you grow up in the city and you feel that you are missing something in life. Then, you get out in the woods and you know it. Even if you don't believe in a formal God, when you are out there in the woods -- even on a wet, cold and rainy day -- it brings peace to your life. I know it has to Ed's."

Mimi read a feature story about Ed in the Athens Messenger before meeting him and said to herself, "My God! That man has my soul."

"I stalked him," she teased.

Her ardor was rewarded with his love and with what might be the longest marriage engagement ever: 28 years.

"We're hoping it will be in the Guinness Book of World Records," Mimi joked.

She taught women's retreats on the subject of connecting with the earth. He built furniture: brawny, utilitarian, primitive masterpieces designed to outlast everything short of a nuclear winter.

"My DNA is in those woods," Mimi said Thursday, her gaze fixed on something out beyond Ed's shoulder as the two savored a pleasant lift in the April air from their screened-in porch.

For many years, Ed shared his love of the Hocking Hills' backwoods niches in a weekly column he wrote for the Logan Daily News. Eloquent and simple, he didn't use 50-cent words -- just million-dollar ones.

Having first come to the hills 40 years ago, Ed has seen his share of commercialization and gentrification. "I'm not crazy about it," he conceded last week, "but it's still better than Columbus."

His recuperation from the medical calamity that almost claimed his life has been a protracted one. He is up to a mile on his walks, although sometimes he tires easily.

His priorities are those of a man who realized early on that there is a reason a Brink's truck has never followed a hearse into a cemetery. He would be happy to enter the afterlife taking nothing from this one save the song of the wood thrush.

Ed yet struggles with aphasia, but on Feb. 22, at Christ Lutheran Church in Athens, he was finally able to put together two words that had been 28 years in arriving.

Retired columnist Mike Harden writes a Sunday Metro column.

mharden@dispatch.com

Vérité exposée – about memory

Opening: Friday, 10 April 2009, 6 p.m.
Opening speech by: József Mélyi art historian


Ernst Museum Budapest is pleased to present the show Vérité exposée - about memory, as part of the festival FUTURSPEKTIV – New Flemish Masters

In the past fifteen years or so, the theme of memory, and inseparably, that of oblivion, has come to the forefront of sociological discourse in Hungary. Different theories approach from different directions, but all of them agree that memory is selective. We remember what we want to, recreating events from our memories in ways we want to remember them. But what influences individual memory, without which the workings of collective memory cannot be explored? How fragmented it is, and how does it depend on the context? The works featured at the exhibition Vérité exposée – about memory connect along such themes as the fragmentedness of memory, difference and repetition, re-creation of situations and events, or the strategy of re-enactment in relation to history and memory. The exhibited works of Sven Augustijnen, David Claerbout, Ana Torfs and Els Vanden Meersch lay emphasis on the issues of individual and historical memory and oblivion, as well as the exploration of processes of perception, changing points of view, and time as an entity that fundamentally influences memory.

The exhibition's title is referring to Ana Torfs' Vérité exposée (Truth Exposed, 2006) a series of 24 prints. Every print shows a distorted projection of a square-shaped light, each time from a different angle, with the word 'Vérité' (Truth), written by hand in the middle. ANATOMY (2006) is based on extensive research into a trial held in 1919 in Berlin: the 'Case of the Murder of Dr. Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg', a document that has never been fully published. Torfs pinpointed selected statements from this trial to compose 'A Tragedy in Two Acts,' the literary script for her installation with the ambiguous title ANATOMY. The installation consists of large black and white slide projections and images on two television monitors.

In Sections of a Happy Moment David Claerbout records a single moment from a multitude of viewpoints, setting the truth of the multiplied image against single-perspective perception. His other work at the exhibition, Bordeaux Piece (2004), is a series of 69 twelve minute film sequences, each of which displays the same movie scene about love and betrayal. In this work, he examines what happens to a film scene if it is shot 69 times a day. How do the lights, the ambient sounds, the actors' performance, the emotions change? Are these really the same scene?

Els Vanden Meersch considers her photographs, sculptures and installations to be psychological portraits, in which the memory of architecture plays a key role: for her, architecture is memory's practice ground. Not so much as a memory of something formed into an image, than as the stimulation of the faculty of remembering in general. She presents Prora – a complex originally built as a Nazi holiday camp and then used as Soviet army barracks until the early nineties - as a colossal monument of post political oblivion.

Sven Augustijnen draws a delicate portrait of a patient with aphasia, suffering from chronic memory loss in his moving and unforgettable documentary films Johan (2001) and François (2003). The editing accentuates the unfocused and stammering line of thought of the aphasia patient.


With the support of the Flemish Government, the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Hungarian Culture Brussels, the National Cultural Fund and the Summa Artium.

ERNST MUSEUM, BUDAPEST
Nagymező u. 8.
H-1065 Budapest
Phone: (36 1) 413 1310
Fax: (36 1) 321 6410
info@mucsarnok.hu
http://www.mucsarnok.hu
http://www.kunsthalle.hu

NOW I CANNOT SPEAK. I LOST MY VOICE. I'M SPECHLESS AND REDUNDANT.

20090402
Upside down is the way I live
In this awful world
To which I won't give
A shit and hold
Still:

You don't know
How cool
It is
To be like this

I'm upside down
In a world going backwards
Memories of my town
Come towards
My mind

You don't know
How cool
It is
To be like this

Thinking Beyond Language: Intervention for Severe Aphasia

Nina Simmons-Mackie

Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, Southeastern Louisiana University
Hammond, LA

Purpose: This article addresses several intervention approaches that aim to improve life for individuals with severe aphasia. Because severe aphasia significantly compromises language, often for the long term, recommended approaches focus on additional domains that affect quality of life. Treatments are discussed that involve increasing participation in personally relevant life situations, enhancing environmental support for communication and participation, and improving communicative confidence.

Methods: Interventions that have been suggested in the aphasia literature as particularly appropriate for people with severe aphasia include training in total communication, training of communication partners, and activity specific training.

Conclusion: Several intervention approaches can be implemented to enhance life with severe aphasia.