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FAQs

COLIN LYALL

Founder of Say Aphasia and a peer leader who runs the drop in groups.

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Colin is the founder of Say Aphasia, with the support of friends who have aphasia. He had a stroke in 2013 which resulted in him becoming aphasic. He began the charity three years later when another aphasia charity ceased to exist. He knew first hand how much of a positive impact a support group has. And so he set up his own charity so that he could continue a much needed support group in his local area.

Colin was 50 when he had his stroke, and could not longer continue his career as a Director of a commercially designed building services solution company. 

He had worked at MTT Consultants for 12 years. After he had a stroke he could not go back to work with his new condition 'aphasia'. He lost his successful career and his house which his wife had recently designed into their dream home.

Colin is an extremely positive and determined man, and so, he took it upon himself to set up a charity to help others just like him.

The charity has given him purpose, goals to achieve and a new sense of success. He hopes that this charity will become that life line for others too.

Published: 4th March, 2020

Updated: 31st March, 2020

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How Long Does it Take to Recover from Aphasia?

...people continue to improve over a period of years and even decades...

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If the symptoms of aphasia last longer than two or three months after a stroke, a complete recovery is unlikely. However, it is important to note that some people continue to improve over a period of years and even decades. Improvement is a slow process that usually involves both helping the individual and family understand the nature of aphasia and learning compensatory strategies for communicating.

Published: 3rd January, 2020

Updated: 31st January, 2020

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Richard Talbot

Richard helps raise money for Say Aphasia by running the Brighton Half Marathon every year.

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We first met Richard when Colin, the founder of the charity had his stroke. Richard was Colin's speech therapist in 2013 and they have kept in contact ever since.

'I'm a qualified speech and language therapist with experience in a variety of adult neurology settings. I currently work part time in community rehabilitation in Sussex, alongside a research post at City University investigating the benefits of delivering social support and speech and language therapy to people with aphasia in an on-line virtual environment called EVA Park. I'm interested in the application of technology to aphasia rehabilitation, and bolstering links between research and clinical practice.'

Published: 11th March, 2020

Updated: 31st March, 2020

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How Common is Aphasia?

...far more than people are aware...

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Aphasia affects about 350,000 people in the UK, and is more common than Parkinson’s Disease, cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy. However, most people have never heard of it.

Published: 31st January, 2020

Updated: 13th March, 2020

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ANA AMAYA

Appointed to the Board of Trustees in November 2016

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"I am an independent Speech and Language Therapist specialising in adult neurology, particularly supporting people with communication difficulties following stroke or other acquired brain injuries.  During my work at Sussex Community NHS Trust, I helped to establish and led the Aphasia Befriending Scheme.  It was through this role, that I met the founder, Colin Lyall, and the inspiring peer leaders of Say Aphasia.  I worked as the Outreach Project Mentor for the Brighton and Hove aphasia drop-in group from February 2014 following its launch in October 2013.  I now am proud to be a Trustee of Say Aphasia.  My role includes sharing my experience and knowledge of working with people with aphasia, supporting fundraising initiatives and raising awareness of stroke and aphasia.  It is wonderful to see Say Aphasia continuing to grow, offering fantastic services across the country to support people with aphasia, particularly the drop-in services. "

Published: 4th March, 2020

Updated: 31st March, 2020

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Kirsty Maguire

Appointed to the Board of Trustees in April 2019

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'I'm Kirsty, and I work for Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust as a Speech and Language Therapist. I work as part of a Multi Disciplinary Team eg with physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists.  My role is to provide intensive rehabilitation to adults with acquired neurological impairments, including stroke.  Working with people with Aphasia is a large part of my job, and an area I find extremely rewarding yet challenging.  Living with an acquired brain injury and aphasia is a life long condition, and I feel passionately about the importance of long term support for people in this position and their families.  I have worked closely with Colin Lyall and a number of other people with Aphasia in Brighton and Hove as part of an Aphasia Befriending Scheme I coordinate. This aims to combat loneliness in housebound people living with aphasia. It compliments the work of Say Aphasia and their peer led groups, which offer a lifeline for many people affected by brain injury and aphasia.
As a Trustee of the charity, I see my role as sharing my knowledge and experience of working with aphasia to help develop and guide the vision of the charity.  This includes raising the profile of the charity and developing links between Say Aphasia and the NHS.'

Published: 11th March, 2020

Updated: 31st March, 2020

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How Do You Communicate With a Person With Aphasia?

slow down, be patient, be concise with short sentences ...

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See here for more communication tips

Published: 31st January, 2020

Updated: 7th February, 2020

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Does Aphasia Affect a Person’s Intelligence?

No...

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No. There are many types of aphasia. Some people have difficulty speaking while others may struggle to follow a conversation. In some people, aphasia is fairly mild and you might not notice it right away. In other cases, it can be very severe, affecting speaking, writing, reading, and listening. While specific symptoms can vary greatly, what all people with aphasia have in common are difficulties in communicating.

Published: 31st January, 2020

Updated: 7th February, 2020

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Mark & Caroline Chappell

Mark and Caroline run the Skipton group.

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Mark had a haemorrhagic stroke in 2012, he has dysphasia and wants to provide a safe, non judgemental, monthly drop-in group for people with aphasia to boost their confidence and help them to engage with life again. There is not much support for people with aphasia in the North of England which is why he was keen to start a drop-in group in Skipton, North Yorkshire.   
Mark enjoys listening to music and radio comedy and has a great interest in drawing, particularly caricatures.
"I had a large stroke in 2012 and have aphasia.  I live in Yorkshire and together with my wife run the monthly Say Aphasia Skipton drop in group.  I enjoy drawing and listening to music, have a good sense of humour and enjoy promoting Say Aphasia.
It is good being a Peer Leader and being able to encourage others with aphasia to communicate and enjoy the group."

Published: 11th March, 2020

Updated: 13th April, 2022

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Can People Who Have Aphasia Return to Their Jobs?

...sometimes, though it can be very hard...

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Sometimes. Since most jobs require speech and language skills, aphasia can make some types of work difficult. Individuals with mild or even moderate aphasia are sometimes able to work, but they may have to change jobs.

Published: 31st January, 2020

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Mike Nicholls

Selsey Peer Leader

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I have the privilege of being chair of Selsey Community Forum and stepped in to lead the Selsey group when others were not able to do so. I am married to Di and have three children and eight grandchildren. Retirement gives me time to volunteer and watch cricket . 

Published: 31st March, 2020

Updated: 1st April, 2022

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Monica

Monica runs the Woodingdean group

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Hi I’m Mon. I’m married and we’ve got three sons and 6 grandchildren, 3 of each!
Before I retired I was working for the NHS as an administrator for a community HIV/AIDS
team in Brighton. Because I was office based I seldom had the opportunity to meet our
patients but I did get to know a lot of them through telephone contact. Over the 18 years I
was working for the team our caseload went up from 22 to over 350!
My husband was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma about 8/9 years ago and so I became his
carer until I was taken ill myself with acute Pancreatitis. I was hospitalised for 5 weeks,
spending 3 of those weeks in intensive care in an induced coma. I had a further two weeks
rehabilitating and at last I was able go home! One week later I had my first stroke!!!
As strokes go I know that I was very, very lucky. I had from some initial weakness down my
right side, which is fine now, but my speech was not good, and still isn’t, although it has
improved.

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I had never heard of Aphasia until I was told what it was by my speech therapist. She also
encouraged me to join the closest Say Aphasia group to me, which was nearly an hour’s bus
ride away. I saw how beneficial the group could be and when I found out a new group was
starting up in Woodingdean I was very keen to be a part of it, although I was somewhat
surprised to be given the title of Peer Leader!

---------------------------------------------------------

Published: 1st April, 2020

Updated: 13th April, 2022

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David Mortimer

David run the Chichester drop in group.

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David had a stroke in 2012, though fortunately he doesn't have aphasia, but the stroke left him half paralyse. He has become a great peer leader for the charity.

He was extremely fortunate in that he didn't suffer from some of the usual deficiencies that follow a stroke so has decided to make the most of it.

After a lifetime career in the aviation in the industry with Dan Air and then with a small tour operator, he felt well prepared to offer advice to those who find themselves in a similar position, and of course the more unfortunate stroke and aphasia victims.

Before his 'incident' David involved himself in a host of different sports, football, cricket, squash, tennis, rugby union, table tennis and when this proved age restricted he turned to golf. His work also provided him with a lot of satisfaction, particularly his time as a manager with an airline which offered opportunities to play on some of the worlds finest golf courses.
Involvement with becoming a team leader in the Say Aphasia movement occupied time in his unoccupied life following his retirement from a normal life. The incident left him with a seriously incapacitated right side, however he had the ability to speak, read, write and most importantly to drive. He attends lots of meetings as well as him being responsible for leading the team in Chichester. A busy week.

Published: 11th March, 2020

Updated: 5th April, 2022

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Tim Charnock

Tim helps run the drop in groups in Hove, Worthing and Eastbourne.

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Tim suffered a stroke, and now has dysarthria. Although he doesn't have aphasia, he finds the charity hugely helpful. And he has supported the charity from day one.

Dysarthria often is characterised by slurred or slow speech that can be difficult to understand. Common causes of dysarthria include nervous system (neurological) disorders such as stroke, brain injury, brain tumours, and conditions that cause facial paralysis or tongue or throat muscle weakness.

Tim is still okay with reading writing and numbers. The charity helps to keep his mind busy.

Published: 11th March, 2020

Updated: 31st March, 2020

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What is Aphasia

Aphasia is a communication disability which occurs when the communication centres of the brain are damaged...

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Aphasia is an acquired communication disorder that impairs a person’s ability to process language, but does not affect intelligence. Aphasia impairs the ability to speak and understand others, and most people with aphasia experience difficulty reading and writing. The diagnosis of aphasia does NOT imply a person has a mental illness or impairment in intelligence.

Published: 31st January, 2020

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Who Acquires Aphasia?

It can occur in people of all ages, races, nationalities and gender...

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While aphasia is most common among older people, more and more people of all ages are being diagnosed with aphasia after suffering a stroke or brain injury. Most common cause of aphasia is a stroke. You can prevent the chance of having a stroke by leading a healthy lifestyle. Please see here for more information: stroke prevention

Stroke Association

Published: 31st January, 2020

Updated: 30th June, 2020

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Can a Person Have Aphasia Without Having a Physical Disability?

...yes...

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Yes, but many people with aphasia also have weakness or paralysis of their right leg and right arm. When a person acquires aphasia it is usually due to damage on the left side of the brain, which controls movements on the right side of the body.

Published: 31st January, 2020

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DAVID LYALL

Appointed to the Board of Trustees in September 2016

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I’m David, Colin’s brother and a trustee of the charity, SayAphasia.

I’m immensely proud of what Colin and the team have achieved with the charity and thrilled that it reaches so many people in such a positive way.

I run a small furniture making business which started in 1985 called Osiris furniture, I then merged with a friend and competitor in 2004 to create OPM Furniture. We manufacture bespoke board room and meeting room furniture using a mixture of traditional and modern materials and techniques, and incorporating current communications and technology equipment.

I am in awe of what Say Aphasia has achieved in a relatively short time and with very limited resources, it is very important that the charity and especially the drop in centres are able to continue, as they not only provide a great opportunity for folk to get out, to meet and to be a part of a common community whilst participating in hobbies that otherwise may not be available, but it also gives the peer leaders, and the rest of the service users, a goal to focus on short, medium and long term.

So although Colin probably doesn’t realise it, he is a great role model……an example of what can be achieved by anyone who is unfortunate enough to suffer the effects of a stroke.

Published: 4th March, 2020

Updated: 31st March, 2020

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Paul Stocken

Paul helps with many of our groups and helps with our fundraising events.

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Former vehicle locksmith, Paul had a stroke in 2008 at the age of 40. He could not return to work and so became a Peer Leader for the drop in groups in East Sussex. He also attends conferences for aphasia, and travels around the country to help raise awareness of aphasia and the charity.

Published: 11th March, 2020

Updated: 31st March, 2020

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Emma Virrill

Appointed to the Board of Trustees in September 2016

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I worked at MTT as Colin’s PA for 7 years before he had his stroke. I am pleased to now be a trustee of Say Aphasia to continue providing support.  I hope that my financial and administrative experience provides assistance to the day to day running of such a fantastic charity.

Published: 11th March, 2020

Updated: 31st March, 2020

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Jez Hodgkinson

Jez runs the Winchester group

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I decided to become a peer leader as I had enjoyed the weekly Say Aphasia Zoom calls and since there was nothing in the area for people with Aphasia, I wanted to help other people in the area and also enjoy the community spirit the meetings provide.

Published: 5th April, 2022

Updated: 13th April, 2022

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Steve

Steve runs the Worthing group.

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Published: 5th April, 2022

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Howard

Howard runs the Crawley group with Jill.

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Published: 5th April, 2022

Updated: 6th June, 2022

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Pete

Pete runs the Darlington group.

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In late 2017 I was involved in a major car accident which left me being air lifted out to hospital, in a coma for 8 weeks and spending a total of 11 months in hospital. Due to the accident I have a head injury resulting in having aphasia & mobility issues. I keep in touch with the speech and language nurses but visiting online Say Aphasia groups has made big and a positive impact within my life.

I became a group leader to give something back to the community. Based in Darlington, I had no groups to focus on or to talk to other people who are going through a similar situation about aphasia so I wanted to bring something different to the town and the people who have aphasia, a place to visit, have a coffee, biscuit and to communicate if they have aphasia.

Published: 5th April, 2022

Updated: 13th April, 2022

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