The Trust has supported many projects including Birkbeck College, University College London, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, University of Plymouth and most recently the University of East Anglia, Connect and Speakeasy.

In 1996 funding was first granted to University College London for a research project called “Making the most of communication: supporting carers in conversation with an aphasia partner” (SPPARC) and again in 1997 to Dr Wendy Best, Birkbeck College, for “Treatment of word finding problems in aphasia” led to a recently completed study on “A health service investigation of the treatment of word-finding difficulties in aphasia using sound and written cues”.

Another project was funded at University College London to Carol Sacchett for “An investigation of the relationship between conceptualisation and non-linguistic communication evidence from drawing production in aphasia”.

In 1999 the Trust funded the refurbishment of an aphasia clinic at Newcastle upon Tyne University and research “To investigate the effectiveness of intensive, theoretically-motivated treatment for people with aphasia”. As a continuation of this research, funding was granted to the clinic to develop sets of therapy materials to work with people with aphasia. Intensive therapy in the clinic has continued due to the support given by the Trust in providing funds for a half-time speech and language therapist to run groups in the clinic.

In 2000 a grant was given to Professor Bakheit, University of Plymouth, for a randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effects of treatment intensity on recovery from post stroke aphasia.

More recently, funding was granted to the University of East Anglia to do a feasibility study, to the Aphasia Alliance to raise awareness of aphasia and to Connect for their Access to Life Project.

The Trust’s latest grant has been to Speakeasy, a charity in the North West, for a 3 year pilot computer project due to start in the early part of 2007.

In addition, since the Small Grants scheme was launched in 2005 the Trust has given over £15,700 to individuals, groups and carers in the UK.

Current Projects

Speakeasy
Speakeasy is a charity in the North West whose mission statement is to make a positive difference to the lives of people who have aphasia and their carers. The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia is pleased to announce their involvement in a computer project due to start in the early part of 2007. The project will be a 3 year pilot study linking Speakeasy with the groundbreaking work of Jane Mortley of StepbyStep Consultancy. Speakeasy will employ a Speech and Language Therapist who is trained to deliver more targeted specific computer therapy to members than is currently possible. They will buy in StepbyStep software, training and ongoing consultation to use the software more efficiently and effectively. They will also develop an outreach service to offer computer therapy to people with aphasia unable to attend the group. This is a very exciting project which will reach many people who have aphasia who might otherwise receive little or no support. Information about Speakeasy can be found on their website: www.buryspeakeasy.org.uk

Connect
The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia was pleased to announce in March 2006 their involvement in Connect’s ‘Access to Life’ project in Cornwall. Connect is working in partnership with Cornwall NHS Trust, Social Services and The Stroke Association on a project aimed to enhance services to people with aphasia and long term disabilities in Cornwall by transforming existing services.

Over 150 people came together for a special event at the Eden project on 20 November to celebrate the launch.

Clients and carers were among the delegates to discuss all aspects of the Innovative Access to Life project.

The project will last for three years and will aim to involve people living with aphasia in the evaluation, design and provision of services to help maximize current resources in innovative ways.

The project has been made possible through funding from The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia, The Charles Wolfson Charitable Trust, The Duchy Health Limited and The Lanvern Foundation.

Bulletin, the publication for Speech and Language Therapists, published an article about the launch in the January 2007 mid-month edition. Print off your own copy here.

To find out more about the ‘Access to Life’ project please go to http://www.ukconnect.org/news_1_245.aspx.

University of Newcastle upon Tyne
In 1999 the Trust funded the School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences at the University of Newcastle to set up an Aphasia Treatment Clinic in the centre of Newcastle. Using space provided by the University, the Trust funded the refurbishment of rooms into intensive aphasia treatment facilities.

The North East Aphasia Centre serves three major functions:

• It offers high quality intensive treatment to clients with aphasia
• Ensures students are trained to the highest possible standards in the assessment and treatment of aphasic disorders
• Promotes research into aphasic disorders and their treatment

The Centre offers:

• Intensive group and individual therapy to clients with aphasia
• Clients attend for three days a week over a period of twelve weeks
• Clients come from a range of areas within the North East (and sometimes beyond)
• Local speech and language therapists refer people with aphasia to the centre

Following previous funding to set up the Aphasia Centre for intensive therapy at the University, funding has been granted to the Centre to build on existing good practice by developing sets of therapy materials, based on the extensive experience gained. The aim is to produce high quality theoretically motivated therapy resources for work with people with aphasia. The resources can then be used by speech and language therapists and students everywhere by making them available either on CD-rom and/or the internet.

For further information about the Aphasia Centre please contact -

Angela Dodson (secretary)
The Aphasia Centre
Speech and Language Sciences Section
King George VI Building
Newcastle University
Queen Victoria Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 7RU
Tel: 0191 222 8550
Fax: 0191 222 6518
E-mail: a.n.dodson@ncl.ac.uk

Or visit the website at:
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/ecls/outreach/aphasia-clinic/therapy.htm

NETA
As a direct result of the Centre, a charity called the North East Trust for Aphasia (NETA) was formed. The majority of trustees are either people with aphasia or their carers. NETA aims to help people with aphasia and their carers get the support they need and want. Currently they fund a Support Centre in Newcastle, which runs one day per week, helping people to move forward with their aphasia. Some of their short-term objectives are:

• Raising the profile of people with aphasia
• Seeking continued funding for the aphasia clinic at the University
• Supporting specific projects for people with aphasia and their carers, such as the Support Centre
• Developing an information website for people with aphasia
• To develop a befriending scheme, where people with aphasia can be visited by volunteers

For further information please contact:

Angela Dodson (secretary)
The Aphasia Centre
Speech and Language Sciences Section
King George VI Building
Newcastle University
Queen Victoria Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 7RU
Tel: 0191 222 8550
Fax: 0191 222 6518
E-mail: a.n.dodson@ncl.ac.uk

Or visit the website at: http://www.neta.org.uk

Past Projects

University of East Anglia
Funding was recently granted to Simon Horton and Anne Guyon from the School of Allied Health Professions to do a feasibility study. The purpose of the study was to establish and report on the issues from the perspectives of a range of stakeholders. This study was used to determine the viability of a centre for aphasia in Norwich. The conclusion of the study showed that a centre for aphasia is not viable in the form originally envisaged, but there is a potential for a dedicated aphasia service in Norfolk. The final report showed a good snapshot of what was happening and would serve as a good model for future research.

The University’s website is http://www1.uea.ac.uk/cm/null/cm/home

University College London and Birkbeck College
The Trust has supported research projects which have lead to developing therapy which can be used successfully in the current Health Service provision.

‘A health service investigation of the treatment of word-finding difficulties in aphasia using sound and written cues’ project was proposed following the success of the academically based study ‘Treatment of word-finding problems in aphasia using phonological techniques’. As the Health Service is increasingly turning towards evidence –based practice, the primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of this treatment in a clinical setting adapting the materials, as necessary for clinical use. This therapy can be successful within the time constraints available and can help with people with aphasia who are referred to speech and language therapists in clinics and hospitals.

The Trust has supported the following research projects-

• Making the most of communication: supporting carers in conversation with an aphasia partner
• The use of phonological and orthographic cues in the treatment of word finding difficulties in aphasia
• An investigation of the relationship between conceptualisation and non-linguistic communication evidence from drawing production in aphasia
• A health service investigation of the treatment of word-finding difficulties in aphasia using sound and written cues

More about these projects can be found by going to University College London’s Centre for Language & Health - www.ucl.ac.uk/HCS/clh/projects/

University of Plymouth
Stroke Unit, Mount Gould Hospital, Plymouth, PL4 7QD
Professor Magid Bakheit, Professor of Neurological Rehabilitation

The study:
A randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effects of the intensity of conventional speech and language therapy on recovery from post-stroke aphasia

Professor Bakheit states in his final report that the main finding of this study is that recovery from aphasia was least in patients who received the smallest number of therapy hours over the study period. An important aspect of the evaluation of the effects of treatment intensity on recovery from aphasia is to examine whether the benefits of intensive therapy last after the patient is discharged from hospital. The report says that the findings of the present study confirmed this and showed that a slight further improvement in the WAB scores occurred in all treatment groups when assessed 24 weeks after the start of SLT.

For further information on Professor Bakheit please go to - http://www.pms.ac.uk/pms/research/neurolgical_rehab.php