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Aphasia pops up in the news again and again, usually the result of a stroke or a traumatic brain injury. We like to roundup these stories because each article or video helps to educate the public about aphasia. The reality is that aphasia can happen to anyone: from voiceover actors to politicians.

Tom Kane, voiceover actor

You know his voice even if you don’t know his name.

 

Tom Kane provides the vocals on numerous projects including Star Wars: Clone Wars, Powderpuff Girls, and Archer along with video games.

 

A stroke two months ago has left him with aphasia.

 

His daughter posted the news on Facebook:

About two months ago he had a left side stroke that gave him right-sided weakness and damage to the speech center of his brain. This means right now he cannot efficiently communicate verbally, nor read or spell. He is still competent and very much himself, but can only get out a few words right now.

He is working with a speech therapist and has shown some improvement, but the family has been warned that he may not be able to do voiceover work in the future.

 

Several thousand people liked, shared, and commented on the post, giving support but also learning about aphasia in the process.

Gabby Giffords, politician and activity

Gabby Giffords gave an interview to mark the tenth anniversary of the gunshot wound that caused her aphasia. She used the moment to highlight aphasia, going on air with speech pathologist, Dr. Fabi Hirsch Kruse.

 

Giffords states: “I’m honored to be a part of the Storytellers experience to share the challenges of recovery and why I’m determined to keep taking one step at a time toward making the world a better place.”

 

As she points out in the opening, giving the speech she gave at the Democratic National Convention last year, she has not lost her voice, and she’s using it to educate the world about aphasia and gun safety.

 

Dr. Kruse talks about aphasia throughout the interview, but she highlights important facts at the five minute mark:

 

We’re always grateful when people use their platform to educate others about aphasia.