What is aphasia?

Aphasia is a language disorder that affects a person’s ability to speak, understand, read, or write. It’s most commonly caused by a stroke, but it can also result from brain injury, tumors, or progressive neurological diseases.

Aphasia does not affect intelligence — it affects the brain’s ability to access and use language.

What are the different types of aphasia?

There are several forms of aphasia, including:

• Expressive aphasia (Broca’s): Difficulty forming full sentences or speaking fluently

• Receptive aphasia (Wernicke’s): Trouble understanding language

• Global aphasia: Severe challenges in both understanding and expression

• Anomic aphasia: Difficulty finding the right words, especially nouns or names

• Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA): A gradual, progressive loss of language skills

Each type requires a tailored therapeutic approach, which Nina carefully designs based on your individual needs.

What causes aphasia?

The most common cause is stroke, particularly if it affects the left side of the brain, which controls language for most people. Aphasia can also result from:

• Traumatic brain injury

• Brain tumors

• Neurodegenerative diseases (such as PPA or Alzheimer’s)

• Infections or other neurological conditions

Can aphasia improve with therapy?

Yes. With consistent, evidence-based therapy, many individuals with aphasia regain significant language skills. Recovery varies depending on the cause, severity, and how early therapy begins.

Even when full recovery isn’t possible, therapy can help maximize communication, reduce frustration, and support independence.

What does aphasia therapy involve?

Aphasia therapy focuses on rebuilding language pathways and teaching alternative strategies to support communication.

Nina uses evidence-based approaches such as:

• Response Elaboration Training (RET)

• Semantic Feature Analysis (SFA)

• Scripted practice

• Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) tools

• Home-based conversational coaching

• Reading and writing exercises

Therapy is functional and personalized — built around your everyday needs, whether it’s holding a phone conversation, texting family, or ordering food.

How is therapy adapted for people with limited speech?

Nina meets each patient where they are. For individuals with limited or no speech, she focuses on:

• Gestural communication

• Writing and drawing

• Using communication boards or speech apps

• Expanding any vocal or sound-based communication

• Training caregivers to understand and support communication attempts

The goal is always to increase successful expression, in whatever form works best for the individual.

Can therapy help with Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA)?

Yes. While PPA is a progressive condition, therapy can:

• Help preserve communication skills for as long as possible

• Teach compensatory strategies for both patients and caregivers

• Support emotional well-being and reduce communication-related stress

• Adapt the environment to support function

Nina has experience working with patients with PPA and other progressive neurological disorders.

How does in-home therapy work?

Nina comes directly to your home and provides one-on-one, personalized sessions in a quiet, familiar environment. This setting is ideal for aphasia therapy, as it reduces distractions and allows therapy to focus on real-life communication tasks — like answering the phone, reading mail, or having a meal-time conversation.

How long does therapy take?

Each person’s recovery is unique. Nina works with you to create specific, measurable goals and adjusts your therapy plan based on progress.

Some individuals work on short-term goals (like word retrieval), while others benefit from longer-term therapy, especially after a stroke or with PPA.

Do you offer support for caregivers?

Yes. Nina includes caregivers in the therapy process whenever possible. She teaches:

• Communication techniques that reduce frustration

• How to support speech and comprehension at home

• What to expect during recovery

• How to maintain language abilities through daily interaction

Empowering caregivers is an essential part of successful aphasia treatment.

What other speech therapy services do you provide?

• Cognitive-Communication Therapy – Strengthens memory, attention, reasoning, and problem-solving skills affected by illness, injury, or neurological conditions.

• Speech Production & Articulation Therapy – Improves the clarity and accuracy of speech sounds for better understanding.

• Voice Therapy – Treats hoarseness, strain, pitch issues, and other voice disorders to improve sound quality and comfort.

• Swallowing Therapy (Dysphagia) – Builds swallowing strength and teaches safe, effective eating and drinking techniques.

• Reading & Writing Support – Rebuilds literacy skills lost or reduced due to neurological changes or injury.

• AAC (Augmentative & Alternative Communication) – Offers tools and strategies such as speech-generating devices or picture systems for severe communication challenges.

• Functional Communication Skills – Focuses on practical communication for daily life at home, at work, and in social settings.

• Progressive Disease Communication Support – Maintains and adapts communication abilities for conditions like Parkinson’s, ALS, and dementia.

What areas do you serve?

Nina provides in-home aphasia therapy across Palm Beach County, including:

• Lake Worth

• Delray Beach

• Boca Raton

• Palm Beach

• Boynton Beach

• Lantana

• Manalapan

• West Palm Beach and surrounding areas

How do I get started?

Getting started is easy. Nina offers a free phone consultation to discuss your situation, answer your questions, and recommend next steps.

Call (561) 797-2343 or fill out the Contact Form to schedule your consultation.