Local resident shares recovery story as part of Aphasia Awareness Month

• Tom and Kim Cariveau

Tom and Kim Cariveau in 2008 while participating in the University of Michigan Aphasia Program. (Photo courtesy of the University of Michigan Aphasia Program.)

Talk about it

Tom Cariveau set a basket full of pamphlets on the table.

“This is my homework basket,” he said.

Cariveau, 54, Grand Forks, isn’t completing homework for a grade. It’s part of his recovery. Nov. 8, 2007, while working in as a physician in clinic, he suffered a stroke.

“He was at the right place at the right time,” said Kim Cariveau, 54, his wife. If he had not been at the clinic, she believes things would have been a lot worse.

The cause of the stroke is still unknown, but occurred between the Broca and Wernicke areas of his brain, which control speech and language comprehension. After the stroke, he was unable to speak. Hours after he was admitted to the hospital, Cariveau was diagnosed with aphasia, a language impairment affecting his ability to communicate.

A new life

Cariveau is not alone. The National Aphasia Association says more than 1 million people in the United States live with aphasia.

Dr. Joanne Pierson, associate director of the University of Michigan Aphasia Program, said this language disorder can be very frustrating for patients.

“Language encompasses so much that we do,” she said. “Imagine not being able to express your needs.”

Aphasia symptoms vary from patient to patient. Pierson says some can write but cannot read and others cannot speak and are limited to using gestures.

After years of therapy, Cariveau can speak with minimal verbal and gesture prompting. And, as evidenced by his homework basket, he also can read and write.

Like many patients with aphasia, Cariveau’s intelligence remains intact.

Kim Cariveau explains his memories are like files in a filing cabinet. “After the stroke, the cabinets were locked and the files were rearranged,” she said.

“But everything is still there,” she added.

Michigan bound

A week after his stroke, the University of Michigan Aphasia Program was recommended to Cariveau. He didn’t want to go.

“He wanted more time to see what abilities would come back naturally,” Kim Cariveau said.

After a few months, he applied and was accepted into the May-June session of the program.

At that time, the University of Michigan’s program lasted six weeks instead of four. Patients participated in 30 hours of therapy.

Pierson said the therapy is rigorous.

“A person must be willing to commit to it,” she said.

Speech, computer, group, music and art therapy are all utilized to promote progress. The therapy is tailored to each individual. Cariveau’s profession was integrated into his therapy sessions. He relearned how to read, write and pronounce words with the help of medical terms.

Educational resources for caregivers also were discussed so therapy can continue once the patient leaves the program.

The ambassador

Cariveau still receives 20 to 25 hours of intensive therapy each week. He participates in group therapy at the UND Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic and in Crookston. The Cariveaus also give rides to other members and recruit people with aphasia and other speech disorders to join the groups.

“They call him the ambassador,” said Kim Cariveau.

After therapy sessions, it’s time for homework.

“It’s amazing I can do this,” Cariveau said, gesturing to the worksheets he has filled out and the booklets he has read.

Kim Cariveau said he likes reading about scientific subjects.

“But adult-oriented reading items are hard to find,” she said. Most of the literature at his reading level is geared toward kids.

In addition to therapy, Cariveau also created and gave a 10-slide presentation about his stroke and aphasia to group of about 40 people involved at the UND clinic and 100 people involved at the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

He also spoke at the annual statewide stroke meeting this month.

Throughout their experience, Kim Cariveau said they have met some who have given up on working toward progress.

“We know we’re lucky,” she said.

Online: www.aphasiahelp.com.

Reach Jewett at (701) 787-6736; (800) 477-6572, ext. 736; or send email to bjewett@gfherald.com.

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