Aphasia Simulations

The purpose of these simulations is to provide some activities that can help you understand what it might be like to have aphasia.

Words can describe, but personal experience helps us see things from someone else’s perspective. A personal experience can change our attitudes as well as our knowledge. Our hope is that the experiences that you will have through these activities will help you to increase your knowledge of aphasia and your empathy towards those who are living with aphasia.

Speech-language pathologists might want to use these simulations to train:

• Family members
• Communication partners
• Caregivers, including nursing assistants
• Nurses, occupational, and physical therapists
• Medical students
• Staff at retirement communities
• Business owners and other community members
• Members of the general public

Teachers could use these simulations to teach students about aphasia, language, and the brain.

Support groups and aphasia community groups could use these simulations at meetings or seminars.

Vendors of products or services that are relevant to people with aphasia could use these simulations to learn more about people with aphasia.

Aphasia Simulations module was developed as a collaboration project between Dr. Jacqueline Hinckley and Keen Research. Dr. Hinckley is currently a Professor at Nova Southeastern University and Executive Director Emeritus of Voices of Hope for Aphasia. Keen Research develops software development kits for on-device speech recognition for mobile devices. In the past, when Aphasia Simulations were developed, Keen Research has experimented with various online services focused on helping with speech rehabilitation of people with aphasia.

Aphasia Simulations was adapted for use in the Voices of Hope for Aphasia Website by the University of Florida Chapter of the Association for Information Systems.