Event Topic:
Aphasia is an acquired language difficulty. It is important to remember that while aphasia affects someone’s language and communication, it does not affect their intelligence. It occurs when language areas of the brain are damaged.
Sometimes brain tumours or the treatment of brain tumours can lead to difficulties with language, speech and communication. As communication is so important for many aspects of daily life, aphasia can have a big impact on a person’s life, including their relationships, work, mental health and wellbeing.
In this Q&A session, facilitated by Prof Kate Drummond (Head of Neurosurgery at Royal Melbourne Hospital), you will meet a fantastic panel of people with experience in aphasia. They will explain what aphasia is, how a brain tumour or its treatment may lead to aphasia, and what supports, resources and tips are available to help if you are living with aphasia, or if you are wanting to learn more about how to better support and communicate with a loved one who is living with aphasia.
About our panel members:
- Prof Kate Drummond. Neurosurgeon. Prof Drummond is the Head of Neurosurgery at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Professor of Surgery at the University of Melbourne, and the Coordinating Chief Investigator of Brain Tumours Online.
- Meredie Ingham. Senior Speech Pathologist. Meredie is a Senior Speech Pathologist working within a Neurosurgery caseload at the Royal Hobart Hospital. She has worked with patients with aphasia and their significant others, in acute and rehabilitation hospitals and community therapy centres within Melbourne, London and now Hobart.
- Cathy Kennedy. Cathy was diagnosed with an Anaplastic Oligodendroglioma (grade 3) over 20 years ago, and has had 3 surgeries, two lots of chemotherapy and radiation as part of her treatment. She will share with us her experience of Aphasia and the impact this condition has had on her life. Cathy has also written about her personal experiences as a long-term survivor of a brain tumour, and you can read her story here.
- Lauren Fletcher. Lauren is a Senior Speech Pathologist who has worked in the field of aphasia rehabilitation in hospitals and community therapy services across Melbourne. She is currently the co-chair of Aphasia Victoria, a consumer-led organisation that exists to support people living with aphasia as well as their friends and family, and promote community awareness of aphasia.
Some resources mentioned by the panellists:
- Aphasia Victoria, a consumer-led organisation that exists to support people living with aphasia as well as their friends and family, and promote community awareness of aphasia.
- The Australian Aphasia Association.
- The SmallTalk app communication mentioned by Cathy.
- You can talk to your GP if you think you have aphasia, and ask for a referral to a Speech Pathologist. Look for one who has experience working with adults with aphasia. A GP may also be able to authorise a care plan for you that would allow you to access 5 sessions with a Speech Pathologist that are subsidised by Medicare.
- Cathy also emailed us a list of some other apps she personally found helpful and wanted to share: Luminosity, Elevate, Heads Up! and various word association apps such as Daily Crosswords or Wordscapes.
When was the webinar held?
This webinar was held at 11am – 12pm (Australian Eastern Daylight Time, i.e. Sydney/Melbourne timezone) on Friday 7th March 2025. It was recorded, and you can watch the video from our website.
Do you have feedback about this webinar video?
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Please note: these webinars are for education purposes only and should not be taken as individual medical advice. Consult with your healthcare team to find out what approach is best for you.