Martha Hardwick, SLP, discusses Aphasia. Aphasia is a language disorder caused by brain damage that affects a person's ability to communicate by interfering with their speech, comprehension, reading, or writing. It can range from mild to severe, depending on the extent of the brain injury, and it affects a person's ability to find the right words, form sentences, or understand others. Aphasia in Native American communities in "Indian Country" is influenced by factors like higher rates of conditions leading to brain injury, such as stroke, and a complex linguistic landscape that includes both declining indigenous languages and revitalization efforts. Due to a lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate services, there are significant challenges in identifying, assessing, and treating aphasia within these communities, which requires a "decolonizing" approach that acknowledges historical and cultural contexts.
12/04/2025