I need to find a psychologist for someone with aphasia.

Thank you Chloe

Hi Michelle,

Here are some other answers for you:

Prof Linda Worrall

Hello Michelle. I am tagging some speech pathologists who can give you a precise answer, but in general a speech pathologist will help with communication and the psychologist will help with mood. They work together. If being in regional Qld is a problem, then the Australian Aphasia Association (AAA) has aphasia groups via Zoom (if your Wifi will support this). The AAA is also running an aphasia camp on the Gold Coast 21-24 Feb if you are interested.

Louise
I feel your pain.
My Dad is 4 years post stroke (he was 66) and is in the same position.
Sought many diff speech therapists to no avail, and cannot see a pychologist as he barely speaks a word of sense anymore. It is soul destroying for him and for the family. He is otherwise completely well and functioning. Can look after himself, cooks, cleans , drives. No physical disability. Purely speech. All I can suggest to you, purely to look after yourself and your own mental health, is speak to a professional so you can off load your stresses and worry and maybe learn better coping skills for the things you can unlikely change (although I really hope you can). My Mother refused to do this and in turn had a stroke 12 months ago, Docs saying it was bought on from caring for my Dad amongst other things.
Our stroke survivors are worth every inch of our love and support, but we cannot care for them well if we dont look after our own health in the mean time.

Rishana
My hubby post stroke nearly 13yrs, his aphasia was really bad so me n kids did tongue twisters which seemed to work, but we found there is no follow up, we are also SE QLD, so im hearing you. Just try talking to different people and explain to them to allow your hubby the time to try n get his words out, which i found the hardest when he started to talk a bit, even now after suffering many mini strokes n in the last 3 yrs he is suffering with stroke affected seizures which he has had over 500 of them, get him to talk to you n dont let anyone try n baby him if you get my drift, live each day as it comes, it is hard, we battled for a long time but unfortunately now he is declining in front of me and thats scary. Sorry i have rambled on, but if you need to chat, send me a pm and we can chat. Let ne just say some people say it will be right, but they dont live with it. Im now caring for hubby 24/7 and its bloody hard, but i try, cos i love him, n we have been married for nearly 34yrs, n he is my best mate, but some days i could strangle him, count to 10, walk away, but always come back. Im here anytime for a chat. Again sorry for the ramble, but sometimes you just have to. Chin up hunny n take each day as it cones n dont have any huge expectations because it is a slow n hard process. Ramble over ❤ chat anytine Michelle ❤

Ange

I’m a speech pathologist and I would suggest contact an Speech Pathology Australia to see who they recommend - I’m sure there are some great people he could talk to but you need to find someone who understands aphasia - or get the SLP to give them some guidance

Carolyn - try this org

Tessa

Some psychiatrists (as in centres) have neuropsychiatrists on staff, I would contact some in your state/region and see if they do telemedicine (video calls) and if it would be covered by Medicare. Now more than ever people can get help for mental health remotely via phone and video

Margaret - here are some apps

Caroline Baker

Hi Michelle, thank you for sharing your story and making this enquiry. I’m a speech pathologist and can help with information in this area. You can contact me on C.Baker@latrobe.edu.au
and I will reply to you.

Barbara 

Psychologist can often be helpful. Try asking your GP to refer you to a suitable local psychologist. Your husband will be eligible for a mental health plan - 10 visits to psychologist bulk billed to Medicare in a year.
Psychologist should be able to help with cognitive improvement as well as mood.
Has your husband had full psychological testing ? Psychologist can help assess stroke survivors by testing that doesn’t require talking. For example psychologist asks “shut your eyes” - if patient does shut eyes then you know patient understood the words and also had control of eye muscles. My mother, for example, understood the question but couldn’t make her eye muscles work. Psychologists can use dolls, drawings and a whole lot of techniques to communicate with someone who is mute.
Of course get speech pathologist help as well. Good luck 🙂