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Paul Berger & Stephanie Mensh's
Stroke Survivor
News & Attitude
For YOU
January 2009
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~~<<~~ IN THIS ISSUE ~~>>~~~
1. NEWS: Research on Stroke Recovery & Rehabilitation: Conflict Resolution in Brain Pathways after Stroke
*** Intensive Aphasia Therapy News ***
NEW: Complete Book Club System
2. PAUL’S SURVIVORS TIPS: Choose Your Life
3. STEPHANIE'S CAREGIVERS TIPS: Dancing for Fun
4. PAUL'S FAVORITES: Finding Your Cheese
5. WHAT'S NEW on: http://www.StrokeSurvivor.com
6.. Stroke Reading Problems? Free Read-aloud Software
7. Subscribe
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Please forward this newsletter to your friends and
colleagues who would benefit from these tips.
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1. NEWS: Research on Stroke Recovery & Rehabilitation: Conflict Resolution in Brain Pathways after Stroke
The ability to choose among similar or conflicting words is an important step in speaking, one that appears compromised in stroke survivors with aphasia. Researchers in the psychology and rehabilitation departments of universities in Houston, Philadelphia and Rochester, NY, have documented - using functional MRI scans - the word selection processin healthy subjects and subjects with aphasia.
The researchers were able to trace the part of the brain where the conflict resolution occurs to select a word -- the region called the Broca's area -- the same place that is often affected after a stroke.
In other words, when your brain is fighting to choose the right word -- dog or cat, food or refrigerator -- the area of the brain that settles the fight and picks the word is now proven to be the area that is knocked out in many stroke survivors with aphasia, according to these experts.
To view the abstract in the January 6, 2009 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, click here.
For additional resources to help you find information on medical, health, rehabilitation, recovery, self-empowerment, and more, we have collected our favorite links, click here.
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*** Intensive Aphasia Therapy News ***
The Pittsburgh Aphasia Treatment, Research and Education Center (PATREC), now in its second decade of service, is opening two satellite offices near Cleveland, OH and in Northern VA. PATREC has provided treatment to patients from more than 28 states and Canada. PATREC's Interval Intensive Treatment Program and the innovative tools at http://www.aphasiatoolbox.com, provide a year of ongoing, intensive aphasia treatment for a fraction of the cost of a short stay, traditional intensive treatment. For more information contact Bill Connors at bill@aphasiatoolbox.com or phone 724-494-2534.
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2. PAUL’S TIPS FOR SURVIVORS: Choose Your Life
You can choose to feel bad after a stroke, or you can choose to get up and do something with your time and your life everyday.
If you don't know what choices you have, here are some suggestions:
* Retire, stop working, and enjoy the free time you have
* Volunteer for a good cause or an interest you
want to follow
* Go back to your old job
* If you can't do your old job, think about
different jobs you can do
* Think about part time jobs
* Continue physical, occupational, and speech
therapy part time while you work part time
* Take a class or learn a new trade from your local adult education or community college program
* Look for state and county vocational
rehabilitation and recreational resources.
Over the years, I have done all of these things. Today, I work full time, volunteer, and have started a new goal in speech therapy.
For more tips on returning to work, visit my article, click here:
Do you have a tip to share? Send it to me at Paul@strokesurvivor.com for a free gift if we use it.
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*** YES YOU CAN = YOU CAN DO IT! ***
Share Our President's Attitude to Do More
President Obama's election theme, YES YOU CAN, is very inspiring. If you believe in yourself, you can set goals and succeed.YOU CAN DO IT - is the title of one of my books, published a few years before the President ran for office.
"YOU CAN DO IT, 105 Thoughts, Feelings and Solutions to Inspire You" for stroke survivors, families and professionals. Real feelings, real thoughts, real everyday solutions. With a special section on returning to work.
"YOU CAN DO IT," written by a stroke survivor, is easy-to-read, easy to listen to. For excerpts and details on the book and professionally recorded CD please, click here
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 3. STEPHANIE'S CAREGIVERS TIPS: Dance for Fun
We watched President and Mrs. Obama dance at their inaugural parties on TV, in front of thousands of people in each ballroom, and millions of people around the country and around the world. They did not seem to be self-conscious at all; they seemed to be enjoying the moment.
A few days earlier, Paul and I attended a local inaugural ball, "Denim & Diamonds" at the community college. We wore comfortable jeans and dressy tops.
They had a live band, and a nice dance floor. Paul and I danced a whole set until the break. This was not the first time Paul and I danced together. We danced at my cousin's wedding and my friend's wedding last summer.
With Paul's right-sided weakness, slight limp, leaning to one side, and paralyzed right hand, we will never win "dancing with stars." We can't do the flowing, rhythmic, in-synch moves. But I don't care. We dance to have fun, to feel the music, and to enjoy the moment.
A few years ago, after feeling self-conscious about getting on the dance floor with Paul, I realized that no one else in the room is paying attention to us, and there aren't millions of people watching us on TV.
Like the song says, "if you have the chance, I hope you will dance." There's no reason that having a stroke should stop you.
For more tips for caregivers, click here.
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*** Give the Gift of Inspiration ****
Inspire stroke survivors, family and friends to live a full life after stroke by LISTENING to the true story of an every-day stroke survivor who returned to work and school after stroke, showing that people with aphasia and a paralyzed arm can stay active in the community, travel, find jobs, lose jobs, and go on to a new career.
All this and more in the AUDIO-book version of "How to Conquer the World With One Hand...And an Attitude."
"My son is really enjoying the audio version of your book. You guys did a GREAT job!!!"
-Patricia B., Michigan
It's the complete and unabridged version, professionally recorded on 8 audio CDs, paced for stroke survivors to understand, perfect for book clubs. Great gift idea.
To listen to an excerpt & for more details, click here.
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4. PAUL'S FAVORITES: Finding Your Cheese
Stroke means a sudden change in your life. Physical, emotional, personal, employment -- everything changes. Life is all about changes. I enjoyed reading the little book with a big message: "Who Moved My Cheese?: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life," by Spencer Johnson.
To learn more about the book, click here.
For details on Paul-tested helpful products, click here. and click here.
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5. WHAT'S NEW on the Stroke Survivor.com web site.
We're adding helpful new things to our web site all the
time. Coming soon is:
We have many useful links for survivors, families and professionals on rehabilitation, motivation, and to regain fulfillment posted to our Resource Links pages, click here
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Would you like to view a previous month's newsletter? Visit our newsletter archive, click here.
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*** Indoor Recreation for Winter: Start a Book Club ***
Research shows that stroke survivors and adults with all levels of aphasia benefit from book clubs to:
* relearn reading and communication skills
* improve social interaction
* talk about events & issues in their own lives
Successful book clubs use specially-prepared study materials and leader guides for carefully chosen books.
The all-inclusive Stroke Survivor Premium Book Club System makes it easy & affordable:
For the same price that others offer ONLY the leader manual and study materials, you also receive five (5) "How to Conquer the World With One Hand...And an Attitude" books, one (1) AUDIO 8-CD book, one (1) FREE book for the group leader, PLUS discounts for other products by Paul E. Berger, award-winning stroke survivor with aphasia.
Use this system to start your book club immediately!
To learn more, click here
6. Stroke/Aphasia Reading problems?
After a stroke, many people have reading and other language problems, known as "aphasia." Hearing a sentence read aloud helps to understand it. You can hear this newsletter read aloud while each word is highlighted on the computer screen with the FREE text reader software.
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FIND INSPIRATION AND SOLUTIONS AT STROKESURVIVOR.COM
Stroke survivors, family, friends, professionals...anyone seeking inspiration, motivation, and more!
Find books, audio-books, tapes, and special tools created for stroke recovery by stroke survivor-expert, Paul Berger, click here.
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8. SUBSCRIBE
Welcome to our online newsletter. If you would like to receive a copy each month, please sign up by completing the blue form on the right.
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Copyright (c) Paul E. Berger & Stephanie Mensh
Permission is granted to reprint these articles
in your newsletter or magazine only with the following byline: "Paul Berger & Stephanie Mensh are speakers and authors. To find out more about their programs and services, visit www.StrokeSurvivor.com
or call (703) 241-2375.
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