In September this year Perth local Mark Scanlon completed a massive journey across the English Channel to raise money for the National Stroke Foundation.

Mark is an independent open water swimmer, marine engineer, surfer and overall ocean man, lives in Perth and regularly swims Rottnest Channel.

After months of training in sometimes freezing conditions Mark, who set about to raise awareness of stroke after a close friend had a stroke at a young age, got to England and then had to wait at the Channel Trailer Park for almost three weeks waiting for clear skies and clear coasts. He completed his epic journey eventually – after a 2 am start, 4 hours of swimming in the dark and another five and a half hours in the choppy swell, finally arriving on the French Coast.

Only 10 per cent of attempts result in successful crossings with challenges Mark’s total swim time to cross 32–40 km was 9 hours 30 minutes, around 3 hours off the world record.

Mark’s efforts on behalf of the NSF are just amazing and we would like to thank this determined and courageous young man for raising awareness of our cause and raising much-needed funds.

If you are an athlete, daredevil or thrill-seeker maybe you would consider running your event on our behalf.  Every dollar donated to the NSF goes towards easing the burden of stroke.

For about Marks efforts see his website.

The Stroke Care Champion Awards are the National Stroke Foundation’s annual awards program to acknowledge and recognize individuals working in the field of stroke.

These are people who do not otherwise get formal recognition for their commitment to either improving stroke care or improving the quality of life for stroke patients, survivors and their carers.

This year we are delighted to announce that Anita Rosenberg from NSW has won the ‘Improving Life after Stroke Award’ for her work in stroke support in Sydney.

The “Stroke Care Champion Award” went to Jacqueline Ancliffe from the Royal Perth Hospital for her work with stroke survivors over more than 30 years. Jacqui has worked in acute stroke care and provided rehabilitation. Congratulations!

The new Tasmanian Communication Support Group aims to provide an active means of support and social connection for people with aphasia, their carers and families.

People with aphasia may have language difficulties, in producing or comprehending spoken or written language. The opportunity to improve communication skills and confidence is seen as a cornerstone for members.

Similarly, the support and education of relatives and carers is an important focus for the group. Speech pathologists from the Department of Health and Human Services will be working with the group on a regular basis.

The group discussed some real-life situations that present daily challenges. These range from using the phone, requesting information, understanding numbers, letters or times or talking to strangers.

The group plans to discuss and introduce strategies to improve communication in these situations. While the group is still very new we are delighted to be able to offer another source of support for people with aphasia.

We are pleased to be working in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services. For more information or to become a member please call Stephen Rue on: 03 6231 4424

For more information please contact the Australian Aphasia Association on:
1800 274 274 or visit: www.aphasia.org.au

Dear friends,
With an enhanced team and a suite of wonderful new projects, the staff at the National Stroke Foundation has enjoyed a full and busy year working towards our mission:  to stop stroke, save lives and end suffering.
This year we released the 2010 Clinical Guidelines for Stroke Management, an important document that sets the bar for best-practice, evidence-based treatment of stroke. These guidelines, supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council, are an important tool in both acute and post-acute stroke care. Importantly the 2010 edition covers all the phases of care in the one guideline in response to comments by experts in the field, as well as consumer feedback. The 2010 guidelines contain new information on fatigue, goal setting and secondary prevention measures, the amount and timing of rehabilitation.
Also in September this year, National Stroke Week was celebrated once again with our important FAST campaign. FAST stand for Face – has their mouth drooped? Arms – can they raise their arms? Speech – is their speech slurred? And Time – Time to call triple zero (000). This simple test aims to make people aware of the signs of stroke as early presentation to hospital is critical for recovery. This year we focused on raising awareness of signs of stroke in others so everyone has a chance to get prompt medical treatment. We were overwhelmed with the support we received this year and thanks once again to all our volunteers.
World Stroke Day in October was another highlight and this year we promoted the “one in six” message. It’s a terrifying statistic – one in six people will have a stroke in their lifetime. Slowly, we hope that our efforts to raise awareness of stroke will translate into better outcomes for those whose lives are affected.
StrokeConnect, our online forum for stroke survivors, is building momentum and provides an invaluable service that can support people in the comfort of their own home. It is very easy for survivors, carers and families to feel isolated and we are working hard with initiatives to encourage peer support.
Our activities are too extensive to list here, but rest assured we continue our work in pursuit of our mission. I send my heartfelt thanks to all our supporters and friends who join us in our goal to reduce the impact of stroke.
Have a safe and happy summer.
Dr Erin Lalor

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What family and friends can do to help.
A speech pathologist can show you how to best communicate with someone with communication problems.
When talking with someone who has a communication problem, try to:

• Talk in short, clear sentences
• Repeat your message if needed
• Use simple gestures
• Use writing or pictures
• Check if you have been understood
• Ask the person to slow down
• Allow the person time to speak - avoid rushing them
• Avoid finishing the person’s sentences unless you have agreed to do this
• Listen to their message, not how they sound
• Help them to be independent but be ready to help if needed
• Be tolerant of swearing. Swearing may be due to feelings of anger and frustration
• Be sensitive to feelings of loss or frustration
• Remember that just because a person has difficulty talking does not mean they have difficulty understanding you or thinking clearly. Treat them as you always have

For more information and help:
Speech Pathology Australia www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au or 03 9642 4899
Speech Pathology Australia is the national peak body for the speech pathology profession in Australia.
Australian Aphasia Association Inc www.aphasia.org.au or 0439 755 052
The association supports people with aphasia, their families and the professionals who help them.
Note: This fact sheet is number 9 in a series. For a complete list of fact sheets, visit www.strokefoundation.com.au

Image via practicethis.com
Communication problems you may experience after a stroke.

Dysphasia (or Aphasia) is a language problem  caused by damage to the language areas of the brain.

Dysphasia may affect:
•    Talking
•    Reading
•    Writing
•    Gesture
•    Understanding others talking – You may not:
•    Recognise sounds
•    Understand the meaning of words
•    Understand what someone is saying to you

Talking – You may:

•    Say the wrong word
•    Repeat the same word over
•    Find it hard to put your words into a full sentence
•    Explain things in the wrong way
•    Swear when you do not mean to

Reading – You may not:

•    Recognise letters or written words
•    Understand long written sentences
•    Remember what you have read

Writing – You may:
•    Find it hard to write letters, words and sentences
•    Find it hard to write your ideas in order so they make sense

Using or understanding gesture or body language – You may:

•    shaking your head for “No”
•    Find it hard to use your hands or facial expressions to help explain what you want to say
Dyspraxia is caused by damage to parts of the brain that control speech. Dyspraxia can make it hard to say the right sound, start a word or make smooth changes between sounds. Dysarthria is a problem with speaking clearly due to weak or damaged speech muscles.

You may have:
•    Slurred speech
•    Changed speech loudness or pitch
•    Changed voice quality - your voice might sound croaky, harsh or weak

Thinking problems after stroke can make it hard to communicate.

You may have problems:
•    Concentrating or paying attention
•    Remembering
•    Planning, solving problems or doing complex tasks
•    You may also tire easily.
•    Studies show that communication problems affect people differently. A speech pathologist will help you with suitable treatment.
•    You may need to:
•    Re-learn how to talk or write
•    Re-learn how to understand words or sentences
•    Use drawing, writing or computer aids to help you communicate
•    You may find it helpful to attend a group with others who have communication problems
•    Get your family and friends to change how they communicate with you
•    The more you practice the more likely you are to recover.

For more information about communicating after having a stroke click here.

At the Smart Strokes conference in August this year Associate Professor Simon Koblar (pictured) delivered a presentation on stem cell research and discussed advances of this research in relation to stroke recovery.

Stem Cell for Stroke Research Program at the Robinson Institute is looking at using dental pulp stem cells. Dental pulp stem cells can be easily obtained from the teeth without risk to the patient.

In the field of transplantation, if tissue can be given from the same person, or close relative, then the use of immune suppressive drugs would not be needed, which would be a much safer long-term option.

Over the last five years the Robinson Institute’s Centre for Stem Cell Research has laid the foundation to use dental pulp stem cells for brain repair.

If you would like further information please contact the Peter Couche Foundation
call: (08) 8313 1334 Or visit www.petercouchefoundation.org.au

Image via marriagemaking.wordpress.com

A stroke can affect parts of the brain that lead to problems in communication.
Communication after stroke

• After stroke a person may have problems:
• Talking or speaking clearly
• Understanding others talking
• Reading
• Writing
• Understanding and using body language and gestures
• Thinking clearly
• Concentrating or remembering
• Socialising

These problems can cause frustration, isolation and depression.
Recovery
Recovery after a stroke is often slow. Knowing how much recovery will occur is difficult. Most recovery occurs in the first six months but can continue for years.
If communicating is hard:

• Get speech therapy early
• Get as much speech therapy as you can
• Practise as much as possible
• How a speech pathologist can help

When communication is hard it can be frustrating or even devastating.  If you find communication hard, a speech pathologist can help. They can assess, treat and advise you about your problems. They will help you find a way to communicate as best you can.

For more about help with communication after stroke click here or call Stroke line 1800 787 653

Tai Chi is known as a healing art and a form of exercise that focuses on movement, posture and breathing. It is intended to improve the circulation of blood around the body and strengthen, relax, improve balance and ease tension.

Physio Chi is a modified form of Tai Chi developed by West Australian physiotherapist and Tai Chi instructor Moh Tapper.

Moh designed a gentler form of this exercise for her patients, including stroke survivors, so they could reap the benefits of the movements within their own physical capabilities. Physio Chi retains the principles and form of Tai Chi but is easier to learn and suitable for people who are not able to stand for long periods of time, something required by traditional forms of Tai Chi.

Moh’s special adaptation of Tai Chi takes the eastern approach to this ancient exercise and incorporates some western physiotherapeutic approaches. Moh explains that Physio Chi doesn’t involve pivoting or twisting on the feet or require bent knees for long periods of time. People who can’t stand at all can practice Moh’s Physio Chi in a sitting position. It can be used with a fit ball, done as a sitting exercise, in groups and even in water.

For more information click here.

By Alison Bakker

Fatigue has, by far, been the worst symptom of my stroke. I was fortunate that my physical recovery was relatively fast and consistent. My physical symptoms are now
minor and very manageable. This wretched fatigue however, is another matter entirely.

The best word to describe it is dispiriting. It takes the spirit out of me, somehow disempowers and depresses, in effect, hobbles me. This is the agonising paradox for me five years after my stroke; it feels to me that without this wretched fatigue I could conquer the world!

So I did some research into post-stroke fatigue (this wretchedness does have a
name!) It is a poorly researched symptom, especially in the later lives of stroke survivors. It’s been researched mainly in the first year after stroke.

There doesn’t seem to be a definitive cause or reason for fatigue, just a brain injury and its recovery. And as there’s no definitive cause, there’s no definitive cure. So I’ve decided to take the fight up to ‘this wretched fatigue’ as it has become, many years after my stroke, the bane of my life.

Pooling together my experience with what I’ve learnt through speaking to other stroke survivors in the online StrokeConnect Forum and reading medical research
and advice sheets, I’ve made myself a plan!

Firstly, I’ve spoken to my GP about what medications I can change or stop that might be causing fatigue. Secondly I began seeing my personal trainer with a view
to increasing my strength and fitness, (as advised by the National Stroke Foundation).

A user on the StrokeConnect online forum recommended exercising through the fatigue. That worked well, cleared my mind and increased my ability to concentrate, though only during mild fatigue.

Then I thought about my diet. I lost a couple of kilos, making sure I got all my meat and veg plus a multi-vitamin. One of the user’s on StrokeConnect online recommended cutting back the caffeine, so I did that, with considerable reluctance and difficulty. I also limit alcohol.

Last was rest. Not staying up too late and scheduling rest in the afternoon when able.

The changes I have made have helped my fatigue, not cured it. I certainly feel better
and more capable. For me the eye-opener was the caffeine reduction, it made a huge difference; alas for my beautiful double-shot skinny latte in the mornings, I knew it well!

Alison Bakker survived a stroke and is a sometime writer from Melbourne. She is married with two children and works part-time as a registered nurse.

For more information download the NSF Fatigue Fact Sheet.