Is Intensive Aphasia Therapy Right for Me?

Is an Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program (ICAP) right for me?

The answer is… Maybe. I know, I know- I offer an ICAP as part of my private practice, shouldn’t I try to sell the heck out of it? Nope. No way. It’s just not right for every person. So when is it the right choice? The basic requirements to be a good candidate to benefit from an ICAP are explained below.

You have to be able to ‘tolerate’ 3-4 hours of therapy at a time. I know it might sound like exactly what you want, but it can be really, really mentally fatiguing. So mentally, can you pay attention that long and still benefit from the challenge the entire time? In addition, physically, you have to be able to sit up the entire time without needing to lie down or rest. Some people just aren’t quite there yet.

You should be at least 6 weeks post brain injury/stroke. During the acute phase after stroke, research suggests that more intensive therapy doesn’t make a bigger difference than traditional intensity therapy. So why invest so much time, energy, and money when it really isn’t clear if it will absolutely benefit you?

You should be able to pay attention and follow directions. If you are unable to pay attention or follow any commands then it is unlikely that you would benefit from an ICAP.

If you meet these conditions then you might be a good candidate for the ICAP program. If you aren’t quite sure you can always call me to discuss and have a brief phone consultation! I also understand that you might not be ready for a full 3 hours of therapy, so I offer modified length programs as well.