Pioneering Durham project targets Aphasia Awareness

Making a difference to the lives of hundreds of thousands of people with speech problems is the aim of an innovative project launched this week, thanks to Durham County Council funding.

‘Aphasia Aware’ combines the expertise of the Darlington NHS Foundation Trust and the Stroke Association, who are looking to connect with major high street brands and help businesses better understand the challenges faced by adults with speech problems.

Clinical lead for communications, adult speech and language therapy department at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, Kathryn Cann says: “The tools and training help businesses to provide ‘communication ramps’ that make shops much more accessible to people with aphasia who might otherwise feel too anxious to use them.”

Aphasia is caused by stroke or brain injury and can make it difficult for people to understand words and sentences, as well as causing slurred speech or dysarthria, but participating shops will display ‘Aphasia Awareness’ signs in order to give their customers more confidence when approaching tills or information points.

Customers can also carry Aphasia ID cards in order to let staff know that they wish to be served by an individual who has undertaken the appropriate communication exercises and awareness training.

Louise Hedley, deputy head of operation at the Stroke Association in the North East, discusses some of the project’s contributions, saying, “Over a third of all stroke survivors develop an impairment of language, affecting their speech and the ability to read or write. Given the massive impact on a stroke survivor’s life, the new flash card, window decals and logos at shopping tills will help assure people that local businesses understand the issues, barriers and frustrations that can come from having a communication difficulty.”

Rachel Collins, a personal banker at Barclays, Durham, one of the first businesses to sign up, says: “It’s crucial that we can communicate effectively and understand all our customer’s needs as it may impact on important financial decisions they make. The training gave us an increased knowledge of the challenges faced by people with a range of communication disabilities and I now feel a lot more confident when helping anyone that may be facing speech difficulties.”

People who will benefit from Aphasia Aware shops include adults with Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease and Huntingdon’s disease.