Members’ Business: Awareness of Aphasia

Rona Mackay S6M-18720 That the Parliament notes that aphasia, which is a language disorder that affects one in three stroke survivors, and can also arise with other neurological conditions or head injuries, can have a significant impact on many people; understands that it can affect speech production and understanding, reading, writing and using numbers and that the level of difficulty experienced varies from person to person, from mild to severe; recognises the significant impact aphasia can have on a person’s life, including leading to feelings of isolation, loneliness and mental health issues; notes the impact that aphasia can have on a person’s relationships with family and friends, everyday social interactions and access to work or services, as well as the stigma and negative treatment that can arise from living with the condition; welcomes the ongoing work of Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) to support people living with aphasia through resources and services; further welcomes the new CHSS course, Living Well with Aphasia, which focuses on giving stroke survivors the information, skills and resources to live well with the condition; notes the calls on the Scottish Government, NHS boards and other key organisations to be better informed about aphasia and to have a greater understanding of the reality of living with what can be a serious and potentially devastating health condition, and further notes the calls to improve access to supported self-management and rehabilitation services for people living with aphasia in Strathkelvin and Bearsden and across the country, to ensure that everyone gets the support that they deserve. Further details available for S6M-18720