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Creativity, Hope, and Life After Stroke: Supporting People with Aphasia Beyond Rehab

Hosts Rob Edwards and Jonathan Hirons introduce their “On the Tip of My Tongue” podcast, a follow-up to Jonathan’s film about aphasia, a brain-injury condition often caused by stroke that affects language in speaking, writing, reading, and texting; they note 350,000 people in the UK have aphasia yet public awareness is low compared with Parkinson’s. Guest Dr. Jess Johansson, a senior stroke researcher at the University of Leeds/Bradford Institute of Health Research, discusses her 13 years in stroke research and a planned NIHR fellowship application to integrate creative approaches into stroke care and extend support after services end. She describes using crafts like vision boards in stroke groups to promote relaxation, hope, and meaningful activity, emphasizing neuroplasticity and recovery beyond assumed plateaus. The conversation covers fragmented care, the value of groups and social connection, inclusion of people living alone or from deprived backgrounds, shifting away from deficit-focused models, engaging GPs, and raising aphasia awareness through public-facing art exhibitions.

00:00 Creativity After Stroke
00:25 Podcast Intro And Aphasia
01:22 Meet Dr Jess Johansson
02:00 Creative Care Fellowship Plan
03:28 Why Creativity Helps
05:04 Whole Person Recovery
07:16 Research With Stroke Groups
10:12 Access And Inequality
12:01 Living Alone And Support
13:28 Mental Health Adjustment
15:50 Recovery Beyond Plateau
19:43 GPs And Deficit Model
23:01 Raising Aphasia Awareness
25:47 Closing Thoughts And Thanks
26:42 Resources And Community

http://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jess-johansson-091923383/

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This podcast is funded by https://www.bas.org.uk

To watch Jonathan’s film: https://tipofmytonguefilm.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tipofmytonguefilm

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanhirons/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tipofmytonguepodcast/

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The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia website

http://aphasiatavistocktrust.org