Nova Scotia Hearing and Speech Centre Can’t Count!

Okay, I had a stroke and have aphasia because of it, so it makes sense that I can’t count. But, really the Nova Scotia Hearing and Speech Centre doesn’t have an excuse!

I requested the numbers of people that have aphasia from 2003-2009 and which regions of Nova Scotia that they live. The reason that I wanted to get the numbers of people with aphasia is that I want to lobby the Government to have available and accessible treatment/continuing education for aphasia. And, communication groups in each region.

The Government must plan for treatment for people with aphasia and to do that you have to know the numbers of people with aphasia! Everyone knows about stroke….but the image that you see in your mind is an older person with paralysis. Am I right?

But, there are more complications and young people who are affected too. So, your image of a person with stroke should be broader. Aphasia is a complication of stroke….when you left side of your brain is injured either by stroke or trauma sometimes the injuries attack the language centre of your brain. You might have problems with speech, word searching, writing and reading. AND, you have to start again with language…kind of like people who are learning another language. That’s why I said “treatment/continuing education”…..treatment for aphasia often is continuing education for communication.

Anyways, I digress. In Nova Scotia the publically funded treatment/continuing education for aphasia sucks! Granted, the treatment for aphasia in Canada sucks! Actually, publically funded treatment for aphasia worldwide sucks.

I live in Halifax. When I was discharged from the Nova Scotia Rehabilation Centre, it took 6 months for the Nova Scotia Hearing and Speech to call me because of the waiting line. Then, I had my 12 sessions - 1 hour per week – then was kicked to the curb. IF, I requested I could put my name on the end of waiting list again – taking about 1 year to get more sessions…12 sessions. THAT is the life of the aphasiac! Can most people who have aphasia go back to their job? No. Maybe, 30%?

I was lucky because I took speech treatment privately because my disability insurance for awhile. But, when they realized that I couldn’t work in 6 months, they cut me off. I have Blue Cross that paid $1500 for physiotherapy, massage, speech and other therapies. But, it’s not enough to help me go to my workplace.

Anyways, I digress…again! My soapbox…. The reason that the Nova Hearing and Speech couldn’t provide the numbers that I requested is that their computer technology was changing???? So, “they” said. You know, I worked in the Capitol District Health Authority who also is changing to the newer technology. And, they need to easily pull numbers for budget planning. What about the Hearing and Speech Centre….they have to plan for budgets too! The Nova Scotia Hearing and Speech Centre is the only game for hearing and speech in Nova Scotia… which means that in each region of Nova Scotia, they must budget planning too. The Department of Health of Nova Scotia dumps funds to the Nova Scotia Hearing and Speech Centre to take care of Nova Scotians with hearing and speech disorders EVEN people with aphasia.

Now, I know that I had a stroke and have problems with numbers, but that’s say that EACH year 1500 Nova Scotians survived a stroke and of those 30% have aphasia…500? That’s EACH year….500 Nova Scotians are diagnosed with aphasia. What about the year before….500. So, by looking from 2003-2009 you should have about 3500 minus the people who are still alive…..AND, that’s just people who had a stroke…..then are the people who had trauma aphasia!

And, there must be offices in each region of Nova Scotia who would know how many people living with aphasia in that region??? That is planning! Hmmmm, do you trust that the Nova Scotia Hearing and Speech Centre is doing enough to care people with aphasia.

I guess I will have to travel to each region and meet people with aphasia or their families.