Abstract
As is indicated by the title, two different themes are discussed. Firstly, we speculate that amelioration of chronic aphasia is mostly due to functional re-organization or formation of neural bypass, based on our past experimental therapeutic interventions. We also discussed the drawing capacity of severe aphasics whose right hemisphere was considered disinhibited by the damaged language-dominant left hemisphere. This theory is a reverse analogy of left unilateral spatial neglect which is interpreted as a positive symptom of the left hemisphere. Based on these data and interpretations, our views of therapeutic interventions are presented.
The largest factor interfering with aphasics' social participation is aphasia itself. However, if aphasics consider it their social mission to disseminate the knowledge about aphasia and aphasics, they may contribute effectively to social welfare. I reported two examples : One is a severely aphasic man who drove alone around the eastern half of Japan for 40 days, and the other is a dialogue between aphasics and students studying to become speech and audiology therapists.
