Lakes Area Aphasia Group attendees with Speech-Language Pathologist Amanda Bostrom
Aphasia affects each person differently—but one point is clear: it’s a loss of language, not intelligence.
“There are varying degrees of aphasia,” explains Speech-Language Pathologist Amanda Bostrom at Riverwood Healthcare Center. “Some people struggle with finding the right words, while others may have more difficulty understanding speech, reading, writing, or spelling. It affects everyone in unique ways. It’s important to remember that aphasia only affects language, it does not affect someone’s intelligence. This is a common misconception in the general population.”
Aphasia is a language disorder that results from brain damage, typically due to a stroke or traumatic brain injury. It affects a person’s ability to understand and express language, impacting communication, reading, and writing. While there’s no cure, treatment like speech therapy can help people with aphasia improve their communication skills.
That diversity of experience for those with aphasia is reflected in the stories of people who attend the Lakes Area Aphasia Group, a monthly gathering that offers more than support—it offers connection.
“I know what I want to say, but I would say the dumbest things,” John Pearson shares. “Through patience, I come up with what I want to say. If given enough time, the words come.” Despite the challenges, John maintains a resilient attitude: “I’ll never say, ‘Poor me.’ I accept it and deal with it joyfully. It happened, and I have to adjust.”
Stan Weimer, another group member, emphasizes the importance of patience from others. “People need to give us time—to let us find our words,” he says. “Following my stroke, I worked really hard. But now, I feel like my speech is going downhill again and the social connection this group gives me is what I need.”
Denise Pribnow’s aphasia wasn’t caused by a stroke; it developed after brain cancer. “My tumor was near the speech area of my brain,” she explains. “The best part of this group is being able to talk without being interrupted. People here understand.”
Mark Linkert appreciates the social connection the group offers. “I’m home alone during the day—except for the dogs,” he says with a smile. “It’s so good to visit with others who get it.”
Held on the second Thursday of every month from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Riverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin, Conference Room E/F, the Lakes Area Aphasia Group is open to anyone living with aphasia and their loved ones. It’s a space where conversations may take time—but they’re worth the wait. Upcoming meetings are June 12, July 10 and August 14.
For more information, contact Speech-Language Pathologist Amanda Bostrom at 218-927-5580 or abostrom@rwhealth.org
Aphasia symptoms
Aphasia can manifest in various ways depending on the location and extent of brain damage. Common symptoms include:
Difficulty speaking: This can range from struggling to find the right words to speaking in short, incomplete sentences, or producing nonsensical speech.
Difficulty understanding: People with aphasia may struggle to understand spoken or written language, even if they can hear or see it.
Difficulty reading and writing: Aphasia can also affect reading comprehension and the ability to write coherent sentences.
Word-finding difficulties: Known as anomia, this can involve difficulty recalling the names of objects, people, or places.
June is National Aphasia Month and the National Aphasia Association offers lots of helpful resources, including digital and print materials, at https://aphasia.org.