My wife had a stroke some 12 years ago resulting in severe paralysis down one side of her body and loss of speech. She spent about 10 days in hospital before being allowed home. While in hospital the only word she could speak was trellis, and to this day we do not know what she meant. One returning home she came under a Dutch physio provided by the NHS, at the first meeting I was surprised by the detailed examination and exercises he put her through but under this guidance she regained 95% of her mobility and dexterity. Also at that time we were well served by speech therapists and my wife made good progress, however it was noticeable that under stress or tiredness speech became more difficult, very often meanings would be reversed, yes would become no, and up, down.
As a result of six months of stress moving house my wife’s speech went
steadily downhill. When we were nicely settled, happy and over the stress
of the move I decided to get further help and got in touch with the speech
therapist at the local cottage hospital. The message I received was “as
the stroke was so long ago you can’t expect any further improvement and
we don’t have the resources”, in other words my wife was being written
off.
I went to the Internet and located yourselves, and by Feb 14th had
React2 up on the computer and running. At first we dodged all over the
program to try it out, but later started to work methodically through
it doing 3 or 4 levels per day and at present are on Semantics/Vocabulary
and Word Finding/ Opposites/ Level1.
Already there is a marked improvement in my wife’s speech and we are
certainly back to where she was before our move over here, I also think
there has a been a considerable additional improvement particularly in
stringing sentences together. Part of this is definitely due to the React2
program but part must be psychological as she has gone from being written
off to…. I’m improving and there is help out there. I had thought that
part of her problem was that the leakage of blood in the original stroke
had destroyed that part of the brain holding her vocabulary and that she
was having to relearn, no such thing, her vocabulary is still there. In
parts of React2 pictures, drawings or situations are shown to my wife,
with very little hesitation, she puts a name to them.
As for ourselves we shall continue with React2, even to the extent of
repeating the program several times and after that will look at the other
programs on the disc. In addition I feel that I am helping and not totally
useless.
In cases like that of my wife, the initial treatment is good but long
term is non-existent, and to say there will be no further improvement
is just an excuse for lack of funding. Most houses have computers so only
the software is required, if funds are restricted then access may have
to be means tested. Having spoken to someone at Propeller I understand
that loading the software onto one of the cheap low lowered laptops is
being considered. This option is likely to be more expensive and means
testing is probably necessary.
As far as I am concerned the money I have spent so far is a small price
to pay for the improvement in my wife’s speech, which even now continues
to improve.
Peter and Sybil Hardwick, Invergordon
The use of REACT 2 software has made an enormous difference to the range
of aphasia therapy which we can now offer to our patients. We use the
programme regularly at each of our three Stroke groups per week; the patients
choosing to use it are both long-term computer users working to regain
former skills and also individuals completely new to computer activity.
The programme is also available to patients who are involved in a block
of treatment with a single therapist.
The colourful and bold presentation of exercises is popular with the patients
who are often supported in their work by volunteers. The graded progression
of tasks enables both user and supporter to readily monitor progress and
the use of photographs is more age-appropriate than cartoon type characters
and images. This strong visual effect and clarity is definitely an advantage.
The range of exercises means the software is a useful tool not only for
aphasia patients but also for those with other challenges e.g, short term
memory loss, auditory difficulties etc. It is generally easy to repeat
tasks and questions instantly which proves to be useful reinforcement.
We have used it on a one-to-one basis at a computer and also as a group
activity with some of the exercises projected onto an interactive whiteboard,
this has proved a really good group activity. We also plan to use it on
the Stroke Unit ward as a part of vital early intervention therapy.
Jeannie, one of our aphasic users, has highlighted the following as favourite
features – generally clear auditory content which encourages her to listen
closely, increasing complexity of exercises and the inclusion of memory
tasks.
Robert has been able to use the software at home which is a valuable complement
to therapy available at the hospital – the software is uncomplicated and
his wife is able to support therapy on a regular basis. The recognition
of objects with verbal output is especially useful for Robert who is always
keen to verbalise single words or complete a sentence.
Most of our REACT licences have been funded by a local, independent SLT
charity which has been able to see at first hand the appeal and the effectiveness
of the programme. The range of topics and exercises means that you certainly
get good value for money
!
Alison Rimmer - Amersham Hospital
It is proving very useful. My husband is beginning to enjoy
it rather than see it as a chore, and is gradually going up the levels!!
He does find some of the line drawn pictures a bit hard to identify, and
is a bit pedantic about some of the groupings of similar things, but I
suppose that is part of the stroke effect!
Anyway, thanks, its a very useful tool in the challenge to achieve recovery!
Jenny Brown
My husband has been using the above software on a trial basis
and has found it fantastic.
Until his strokes which happened in November, December and January, he
was a “troubleshooting” Headteacher whose job was to go into secondary
schools with serious problems and sort them out. Communication skills
were central to this. Now he is unable to read, write or deal with numbers
properly. He has difficulty in remembering words and problems with memory.
Although he is fortunate that his mobility is now regained, the communication
difficulties cause him great anguish. Speech therapy is only available
on a sporadic basis as there are a lot of demands on the SLT service on
the NHS as you are aware.
His goal is to get back to a job which was socially important and at which
he excelled and he was very frustrated by the patchy SLT provision with
only inappropriate worksheets in between. Your software has enabled him
to work independently every day at the areas of weakness and to receive
instant feedback. We are both teachers and really appreciate the differentiation
and progression which React 2 gives.
Janice and David Wetherell
My husband Angus had a left-brain stroke 2 years ago; as a consequence
he has moderate/severe aphasia. We found out about the React2 program
from his Speech and Language Therapist and purchased it in November 2007.
Angus usually works on the program each day for approximately 1 hour,
having gradually increased his time from short 10 minute sessions initially.-
This particular program has benefitted him in several ways; both his confidence
in daily life and his ability to recognise the written word have increased.
Angus’ increased level of confidence during day to day routine activities
has been partly due to the work he has done on this programme.
He has been able to build up his level of concentration during the weeks
and months. Also, his fine motor skills and hand/eye coordination have
greatly improved. The language activities in the programme are carefully
graded to enable the user to select the correct entry level. The simple
picture recognition and the “ matching” activities have proved very useful
for Angus. The “ hints” available on each section enable him to achieve
independent learning.
The stimulation which this inter-active programme provides has been very
useful and the time spent at the keyboard is very worthwhile. We would
highly recommend this program.
Jill and Angus Igwe, Hants.
Due to the kind sponsorship of an interested donor, Clinton Deutschmann
and many adults at Aurora Rehabilitation Hospital in Port Elizabeth will
be the first to benefit from Propeller Multimedia Software in South Africa.
Clinton sustained a severe head injury in July 2007 after falling through
the roof of a factory where he worked. He received intensive, inpatient
daily speech therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy from August
2007 to January 2008. Since then he has been receiving weekly outpatient
speech therapy, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and powerplate. Propeller
Multimedia Software will allow him to continue intensive therapy at home
with weekly guidance from his speech therapist. The Medical Director and
Speech Therapists at Aurora are thrilled with this software and look forward
to seeing the results with other patients.
Holly Saxby, Speech Therapist, Aurora Rehabilitation
Hospital, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Headway Shropshire is a charity that was set up in 1989 by local people
who had experienced the effects of head injury. We now have our own purpose
built Headway House where we run our day opportunities centre and our
free outreach service. We have been using React 1 cognitive rehabilitation
software for over two years. It is used primarily to evaluate and chart
the progress of Headway Shropshire clients’ skills in areas such as short
term memory, literacy and numeracy. With the advent of React 2 we are
able to broaden our scope as we have a wider choice of cognitive programmes.
Visually it is easier for the clients to follow as the graphics are very
clear and easy to understand. The menu is simple to follow, allowing clients
easier and quick access to the various programmes. From the tutor point
of view, it is very easy and quick to access the many programmes; the
table of user results greatly assists us with client evaluation. With
multiple level access to the majority of the programmes we are able to,
a) chart the progress or otherwise of our clients, and b) ascertain the
level they are able to achieve without placing undue pressure on them.
Both the audio and visual programmes are very clear and certainly help
our clients, some of whom have a degree of difficulty in understanding
the concepts of the different processes we are trying to get them to complete.
All clients with an acquired brain injury are unique, so with the broad
range of cognitive software available through React 2, we are able to
find suitable activities for most of our clients.
Frank Buzzard, Outreach Worker, Headway Shropshire
I'm getting good sound from my laptop. The results sheet looks as if it
will be very useful.
I like being able to print off the 'content list' so that users can see
the 'big picture' of Exc done and Exc yet to do.
Use of spread sheet sounds really useful because you can then choose what
'slant' you want on the written form of the results. "
Susan Bell, Bell Speech Consultants
In our department, we have been using software from Propeller Multimedia
for several years now. Having used React successfully since its development,
we were pleased to be able to purchase React 2 last year. This is an extremely
user-friendly piece of therapeutic software for adults with language processing
deficits. It covers a broad range of language domains and provides varying
levels of difficulty to suit the widest range of patients. I have found
it useful both for patients with pure aphasia and those with problems
of language and cognition, subsequent to traumatic or other forms of brain
injury. Patients themselves have responded very positively to the package,
appreciating the range of stimuli it offers. I find it a real boon in
terms of therapy preparation time – I know that it will provide exercises
ideally suited to my patient without having to sit and prepare paper and
pencil exercises. Though such exercises will always be an important part
of therapy provision, React 2 provides a refreshing alternative for both
therapist and patient.
In addition last year, we were also fortunate to be able to purchase several
other pieces of therapeutic software from Propeller. We chose packages
dealing with reading, including functional tasks such as reading an advert
as well as longer texts, semantic processing, auditory comprehension and
speech analysis and production. Although these packages (developed by
Bungalow) are American and therefore rather culturally biased, we have
found them useful adjuncts to therapy, and most patients are not troubled
by the American accents. Again, they provide a large pool of extra resources
for patients who need repeated practice to achieve speech and language
goals. We have found Propeller Multimedia to be consistently helpful and
accessible. From selection of products, to installation to after-sales
care, their approach has been friendly and totally reliable, and I would
not hesitate to purchase from them again
Speech and Language Therapist, Edinburgh, Scotland
Having successfully written the content for the first version of React
back in 1997-8, we never thought we would do it all over again 9 years
later! In many ways we were surprised, but pleased, that therapists and
patients were still using the original version, as technology has moved
on at quite a pace since React 1. Those of us who wrote the original therapy
program were well aware that we would have done things differently, had
we been starting all over again.
Although people were finding the program useful and enjoyable, we knew
it could be better! We had received good feedback from all over the world,
particularly from therapists who were using React with users in several
patient/client groups. As a result of this feedback and discussion between
the SLT department of NHS Borders and Propeller Multimedia, we decided
to do a little ‘tweaking’ of the original programme – for 2 main reasons:
We wanted to make sure that the level of complexity within a task did
not change half way through an exercise!
Although React 1 was originally intended for adults with aphasia, it had
quickly become clear that therapists were using it successfully with children
and also adults with learning disabilities. So we decided to change all
the vocabulary and images to cater for these other client groups in the
early levels of each exercise! To make both these changes ended up as
more than “a little tweak”! It resulted in many hours of re-writing the
entire program, incorporating many more tasks and exercises, then re-grouping
them into slightly different sections from React 1.
We have included all the tasks that were in React 1 in sections 1-4. But
some – such as ‘money’ and ‘time’ – have been moved into a new section
called “life skills”. Most of the content for this section has now been
written by the SLTs but it will now be released as a separate module at
a later date. This particular section will be very suitable for people
on the autistic spectrum as we will be including a large number of exercises
on pragmatics while the tasks for functional reading will be of particular
interest to therapists working with adults with learning disabilities
– so watch this space for news of the release of ‘life skills’. It is
possible that, even after it is released, this section will grow as therapists
provide us with suggestions for new tasks and ideas.
We are pleased to have had the opportunity to work with Propeller once
again, especially as the new IT technology has made it the end result
a much more exciting program! We hope you enjoy using React 2, and would
welcome any feedback on the program!
Patricia Mitchell, SLT Lead Clinician, NHS Borders
E-mail: endorsements@propeller.net