Aphasia Snapshot: Shopping in Local Stores
Errands are something we all need to do—whether it’s filling a monthly prescription at the drugstore or buying new swimsuits for summer. From big, chain stores like Target to tiny mom-and-pop stores in your hometown, we want to hear your experience of shopping with aphasia.
Fill out the question set below one time only before June 30 at 3 pm ET. We’ll be back at the end of Aphasia Awareness Month with the community results.
Ready to jump into this mini Aphasia Snapshot and share your thoughts?
What Is an Aphasia Snapshot?
If you’ve ever attended one of our Aphasia Cafe chats, you know that we love to ask questions. We ask them when you sign up, and we run polls during the chat. The reason is simple: It gives everyone a chance to have their voice heard and participate in the discussion topic, especially when communication is difficult. By clicking a box or two, people who participate in our questions participate in the conversation.
We’ve expanded this project to our site to loop in people who may not be able or want to attend the chats. We find these questions provide an interesting snapshot of our community and bring more people into the conversation. Moreover, the results spark conversation. Do the majority of people share your opinion? How does your experience of aphasia overlap with people around you? It’s interesting to hear how many people feel the same way you do.
Normally, each month, we introduce a short series of questions to take a snapshot of the community. For Aphasia Awareness Month, we’re opening up mini snapshots weekly, and we’re posting the results to wrap up the month (along with a downloadable PDF version).
Unless noted, these questions are for people with aphasia. If you are a caregiver or professional, we hope you pass along these questions to the people with aphasia in your life. Fill out the questions together, or encourage the people with aphasia in your life to add their voice to the discussion. This additional way to communicate makes everyone part of the conversation.
These are not meant to be scientific research but merely a way to take the community’s pulse and collect ideas around a situation.
Comments
11 Comments
Where can I find a device, such as an IPAD, that shows pictures and talks, of things I need to say or ask for. Items like I am hot or cold, I want food, or something to eat I need a way to communicate with my care giver about my needs without having to type or write which I can not do.
I never heard of aphasia, until I got it. It would be much easier to deal if there was more awareness, like there are with other diseases.
Please I have aphasia I am 44 I think
I had 2 strokes in 2017 and I can’t leave my house on mist days I can’t believe myself I can never think It’s like I have dementia I can’t live the rest of my life this way with no life its not the way I seen my future I was a0 truck driver before my stroke and I am diagnosed with aphasia and I know no one knows people have said all kinds of things they thought aphasia ment like hair falling out
I don’t know what to do I need to make aphasia more aware
I am a 13 year of aphasia–it started out with my right carotid artery being 100% blocked and my left carotid artery being 95% blocked. They operated on my left carotid and 6 hours later I threw a clot. The doctors said my right arm would never work, I would walk a brace, on my right leg, and I would never speak. I walked 7 miles a day and I use of my right arm and aphasia. I started out not being able to say any thing–my stroke was in April and by Christmas I was able to say yes and no but incorrectly. After 13 years of speech therapy my use of language is good but I still have difficulty with conversational speech. I belong to a West Virginia University Stroke Support Group and I volunteer at Ruby Memorial Hospital every Thursday with stroke victims encouraging them to keep trying because things can get better.
I am a caregiver for my husband. He had a stroke in 2016. He as right side paralysis, walks with quad cane. He had therapy for about six weeks after coming home from rehab. He is mentally alert but very hard of hearing. He is 80 next month. He gets very frustrated when I don’t understand what he is trying to say. He uses laptop and watches TV. What can do to be more helpful?
Not only do I have Aphasia but very poor vision and hearing is bad to. I am 90 years old. I do not have much of a social life. I really wish I could die.
I found PPA a moving target. Both for my LO and for myself. Just hang on- it won’t last forever.
When I’m in stores or restaurants, sometimes even a doctor’s office – if there is a lot of background noise, I find it very difficult to concentrate on what the person is saying. It’s very hard to follow them. Also, if someone is talking too fast, it’s very hard to understand. This is still very true even though I had the first two strokes in 2004. I’ve had two more small strokes since then. It’s so important for others to understand what aphasia is – otherwise, some people think, “what’s wrong with them.”
My husband was diagnosed in March with PPA. The last 3 months I’ve noticed a downward spiral. He is pretty much non verbal and confuses yes for no and vice versa. Waiting for acceptance for clinical trail at Northwestern. Currently being followed by nuero group at Columbia, both organizations are wonderful. SHARING IS CARING AND NEVER GIVE UP!!!
My pet peeve is people trying to finish my sentences for me. It makes communication difficult and makes me no longer want to speak with them. What can we do as people with aphasia say to those who try to finish your sentences for us instead of letting us say we need to. Thank you Joe Carter
My spouse 72 yes has been diagnosed as having PPA for the past 3 years. Her verbal communications has gradually stopped. Her cognition abilities are very poor. Hopkins stated she is too impaired for clinical trial. Also, lately she has no control over her bladder and bowl. Do not know where to turn for help. Anyone have any suggestion, it is very much appreciated.