2017 Volume 66 Issue 5 Pages 512-522
Aphasia refers to the inability to comprehend and formulate language because of brain damage typically caused by a cerebrovascular accident, etc. The speech or language of a person who has been diagnosed with aphasia is significantly impaired in four communication modalities, including auditory comprehension, verbal expression, reading and writing, and functional communication.
Aphasia affects numerous aspects of individuals’ lives. Living with aphasia causes long-term changes in not only language and communication style, but also in lifestyle, including one’s job. Furthermore, in some cases, aphasia can lead to problems with social adaptation.
Though the conditions of adults with aphasia are often severe, they are not fully supported under the law. In 2015, the government examined the Services and Supports for Persons with Disabilities Act, and made a necessary revisions to the act based on the results of this examination. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has also conducted research on training and dispatching communication supporters. According to the results, in 2016, they devised training programs for communication supporters with the aid of the Japanese Association of Speech-Language-Hearing Therapists. In 2018, prefectures will begin to offer community life support services, among other services. These might offer good opportunities to enhance support for adults with aphasia.
