Kyla Brown

University of Queensland | UQ · NHMRC Centre of Clinical Research Excellence in Aphasia Rehabilitation

Background: Intensive comprehensive aphasia programs (ICAPs) are gaining popularity in the international aphasia rehabilitation community. ICAPs comprise at least three hours of treatment per day over at least two weeks, have definable start and end dates for one cohort and use a variety of formats including individual treatment, group therapy, edu...

Background: Visual methods, including participant-generated photography as a stimulus to qualitative interviews, have a long history in the social science research as a means of enriching qualitative research data. However, little is known about their use with people with a communication disability such as aphasia. In this article, we provide a com...

Aphasia is an acquired language disorder that can present a significant barrier to patient involvement in healthcare decisions. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are viewed as experts in the field of communication. However, many SLP students do not receive practical training in techniques to communicate with people with aphasia (PWA) until they e...

Background: People with aphasia frequently report reduced social networks as well as a desire for increased social interaction. Individuals with aphasia and speech-language pathologists have identified peer support as an important component of adjusting to post-stroke changes and learning to live successfully with aphasia. Peer-led aphasia support...

Hersh, D., Worrall, L., O’Halloran, R., Brown, K., Grohn, B. & Rodriguez, A. (2013). Assess for Success: Evidence for therapeutic assessment. In: N. Simmons-Mackie, J. King & D. Beukelman (Eds.) Supporting Communication for Adults with Acute and Chronic Aphasia. Brookes Publishing. (pp. 145-164).

This commentary aims to extend the debate of the lead article authors ( Wylie, McAllister, Davidson, and Marshall, 2013 ) by translating the nine recommendations of the World Report on Disability into a plan of action for the aphasia community. Solutions for the advancement of aphasia science and services are presented at international (macro), nat...

This study used a qualitative approach to describe the experience of the first 3 months post-stroke in order to identify factors which facilitate successfully living with aphasia. Fifteen participants completed semi-structured interviews and self-perceived ratings of how successfully he or she was living with aphasia. A number of themes were identi...

Loss of friendship post-onset of aphasia is well documented, with reduced social network size and social isolation commonly reported. Because friendship has strong links to psychological well-being and health, increased knowledge about friendships of individuals with aphasia will have important clinical implications. This study aimed to explore the...

The concept of living successfully with aphasia has recently emerged as an alternative to more traditional "deficit" models in aphasiology, encouraging a focus on positive rather than negative outcomes. This research aimed to integrate findings from studies exploring the perspectives of three participant groups (individuals with aphasia, speech-lan...

Unlabelled: Language and lifestyle changes experienced following the onset of aphasia extend beyond the individual to impact family members of persons with aphasia. Research exploring the meaning of living successfully with aphasia has explored the perspectives of individuals with aphasia and speech-language pathologists. Family members' views of...

Background: Exploring the concept of living successfully with aphasia challenges researchers and clinicians to identify positive rather than negative adaptive processes and factors that may inform clinical interventions and other community-based services for people with aphasia. Previous research on this topic has focused on the perspectives of in...

Background: A life-coaching and positive psychology approach to aphasia has recently been advocated by Audrey Holland, to whom this issue is dedicated. Aims: This paper reviews our recent research which informs the three basic assumptions behind a life-coaching approach to aphasia: (1) learning to live successfully with aphasia takes time; (2) apha...

Background: While the negative impact of aphasia has been the focus of much research, few studies have investigated more positive examples of people living with aphasia. Exploring the concept of living successfully with aphasia from an insider perspective can enhance current research by providing positively framed data that balance this negative sk...

Background: The loss of language and the inability to communicate effectively as a result of aphasia often affects community participation. Within the World Health Organisation International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, disability is recognised as a dynamic interaction between the individual's health condition, such as apha...

The onset of aphasia represents a significant and life-changing experience for many individuals. Common sequelae associated with aphasia include depression, social isolation, and loss of self-identity. Because of the importance of communication in relationships, the effects of aphasia also extend beyond the individual to impact on family. Although...