Everyday aphasia "therapy" ideas

This post is designed to be accessible for those with and without aphasia.

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Aphasia rehabilitation requires practice outside of therapy time. It can feel overwhelming and hard. We have chosen some everyday tasks that don't feel like traditional therapy. If you have aphasia, read through the lists and choose tasks that you will enjoy. If you enjoy it you are likely to practice more. Here are some everyday ideas to practice using your language.

Active practice

Do these tasks when you have some time and energy. They are more functional than traditional therapy tasks.

• Have a conversation with a family member

• Phone a friend for a chat

• Summarise a news report from the TV to a conversation partner

• Read tongue twisters

• Do a word game (crossword, word search)

• Read a book/newspaper/magazine/letter/junk mail/email

• Read aloud a book/newspaper/magazine/letter/email

• Play a board game (articulate, word tennis, Taboo charades, scrabble)

• Write in a diary

• Write an email/letter/text message

• Write a list (to do list, shopping list)

• Write down lists of words in categories (animals, furniture, items in the kitchen, fruit, vegetables etc.)

• Write down lists of words in letter groups

• Have a debate with a conversation partner

Passive practice

Do these when you don’t have the energy for active practice.

• Watch TV

• Listen to a podcast

• Listen to an audio book

• Listen to music with lyrics

• Online shopping

• Listen to the radio

• Scroll social media

• Play a game on your phone