Established in 1947, the University of Michigan Aphasia Program (UMAP) is one of the leading providers of intensive speech-language therapy for adults with aphasia in the country. We are committed to assisting adults with aphasia maximize their communication abilities.

Through our comprehensive therapy approach, our clients regain a meaningful life with family, friends, and their broader community. Our therapy techniques and evaluation tools are innovative, comprehensive, and enable us to treat adults with aphasia in any stage of recovery and at all levels of severity.

Intensive therapy means that each client receives a total of 23 hours of therapy each week. This includes 15 individual, 5 group, and 3 computer lab sessions weekly. Typically, the clients attend UMAP five days per week for six weeks for a total of 138 therapy hours.

Therapy schedules can be modified in their intensity and length to meet the needs of each client. The Clinical Services Manager will be glad to discuss a modified therapy program designed to meet the needs of your loved one with aphasia.

Individual Therapy
Individual therapy goals include improving speaking, understanding, reading, and writing skills. In addition, many of our clients learn to use compensatory strategies to enhance their verbal skills. Examples include using a communication book, drawing, gesturing, or communicating with an electronic device. Clients and caregivers find these individual sessions very beneficial in helping them to regain effective communication strategies.

Group Therapy
Small group sessions offer our clients opportunities to use newly acquired speaking skills as well as compensatory strategies in conversational situations with others with aphasia. Clients improve their ability to use compensatory strategies in varying contexts with different conversational partners. At the same time clients receive important emotional support from their peers, which they report to be invaluable.

Computer Assistive Training
During computer assistive training, clients work in our state-of-the-art computer lab and use aphasia software to facilitate their therapy goals. Specific computer programs may address speaking, reading, writing, listening, remembering, or thinking skills, whereas other programs focus on vocational or educational needs. The clients respond positively to computer lab. Not only can they work on their language skills, but they acquire the ability to independently use computer software.

Language Enrichment Group (LEG)
LEG, a weekly language group, is designed for residents of Southeast Michigan and current UMAP clients to practice their communication skills in a supportive environment. Most group members have aphasia, but some may have other language disorders.

Many LEG members have completed outpatient speech-language therapy and are seeking additional services to further improve their communication skills and to work on their compensatory strategies. Spending time with others like themselves, these participants are able to increase their self-confidence in conversational situations, make new friends, improve their quality of life, and develop more meaningful interactions in their community.

The group meets every Wednesday for a 90-minute session that is facilitated by a certified speech-language pathologist with assistance from trained volunteers. Caregivers may concurrently meet in a caregivers support group to tell their stories, share their concerns, express hope, and offer practical tips to each other.

Download the LEG Flyer for more details.

Art Therapy
Art therapy is an excellent adjunct to our speech-language services. Our clients learn to use many different mediums to express their feelings nonverbally. They also refine their drawing skills, which enables them to use this modality as a means of communication. The sessions are led by talented art students or former UMAP clients. Art therapy is offered to our UMAP clients on a weekly basis. Clients greatly enjoy expressing themselves through art.

Music Therapy
Music therapy is another excellent adjunct to our speech-language therapy program. Music can stimulate verbal expression and can assist our clients to communicate better. Some clients also relearn to play their favorite musical instrument or musical tunes from their past. Music therapy is offered weekly in a group session to all our UMAP clients by a certified music therapist. Individual sessions are available as well. At the end of each session, clients have fun showcasing their musical skills.

Home Training Program
The Home Training Program is designed to develop an individualized home therapy program. The goal of the Home Training Program is to improve communication skills and thus support a more independent lifestyle.

The Home Training Program provides a comprehensive speech and language evaluation for adults with aphasia. It requires a one-week commitment by the adult with aphasia and a caregiver. Over the course of the week-long program, each participant receives 23 hours of therapy that includes individual sessions, a daily group session, and computer assistive training sessions. All speech-language therapy is conducted by certified speech-language pathologists who work with both the client and the caregiver.

A key component of the Home Training Program is the final conference. The final conference is held with the client and caregiver to review specific recommendations. The home therapy program is practiced and videotaped, with a copy of the videotape provided to participants to assist with the transfer of techniques into the home. The speech-language pathologist will conduct periodic follow-up for 6-12 months to determine progress and make additional recommendations as needed.