Speech-Language Therapy Awareness week 2024

This week (23-29 Sept) is Speech-Language Therapy Awareness week. The theme is celebrating difference, inspired by the whakataukī E koekoe te tūī, e ketekete te kākā, e kūkū te kererū. Every voice is unique and we believe that diversity in communication enriches our world. We want to celebrate the power of diversity and the incredible ways we all express ourselves!

At Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust, we have a team of five Speech-Language Therapists who do an amazing job working with our clients who have brain and/or spinal injuries. We support clients who have a variety of communication difficulties, including cognitive-communication (difficulties with thinking skills), social communication (difficulties with social interactions), aphasia (difficulties understanding and expressing language), dysarthria (difficulties with speech), voice, stuttering and more.

One of our Speech-Language Therapists, Laura, has been working with Missy, who has had a stroke and has aphasia. Aphasia impacts the ability to express and understand language. Missy shares “I couldn’t speak at first, I tried to use different ways of communicating, now I use gesture and body language. It takes me ages to communicate my feelings. I want to talk and be better. People feel sorry for me, but I don’t feel sorry for me – I’m alive and I’m doing well”

Missy knows that Speech-Language Therapy has helped her to improve her communication “I try to be positive, you need help to better yourself”. Missy also attends an aphasia group, with other people who have similar communication challenges “I love it there, it’s a place where I can be positive…be myself”. Missy’s advice to others is to ‘be kind’; everyone communicates in different ways.

For further information, check out the New Zealand Speech Therapy Association (NZSTA) online awareness campaign with daily posts of stories celebrating communication difference.