Bruce Willis, the 67-year-old actor mostly known for portraying wisecracking action heroes like John McClane from the Die Hard series, announced his retirement from acting, after being diagnosed with aphasia. Those who worked with him had been aware of a cognitive decline over several years, noticing struggle with his memory and an inability to deliver long lines. (more…)
Front line workers are overwhelmed treating our COVID afflicted patients. But it’s not just doctors and nurses that are on the front line. Assistants, environmental services and many other specialists are busy treating these patients. Transportation is moving them from one area to the next. And speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are also right there in the thick of things. (more…)
May is Better Hearing & Speech Month – a time to appreciate and celebrate speech-language pathologists (SLPs), and the field in which they practice.
SLPs are experts in communication. They treat common and complex speech and swallowing problems in both children and adults. But diving deep into an amazing spark of technology showcased in the documentary Gleason brings to the forefront hope for those battling ALS and other diseases such as cerebral palsy and stroke, who lose the ability to speak. Hennepin Healthcare offers eye gaze devices to those patients who have lost their voice.
Think strokes just happen to seniors? Think again. A stroke was the last thing healthy Sten Anderson thought would happen to him at the young age of 24. But it did.
This May, being Stroke Awareness Month, you should be aware that a stroke can happen at any time, at any age and even to perfectly healthy people. Sten felt a major headache come on while running on his treadmill and, although there can be different signs of stroke, there are four main ones. Educate yourself because in the case of stroke – time is critical. From the onset of a stroke to the arrival at the emergency room, damage can be minimized the quicker you get there. Move F.A.S.T.
Sten was lucky, but it wasn’t without determination and lots of work. The Hennepin Stroke Center and the Knapp Rehabilitation Center were a big part of his young life. Read Sten’s story.
