[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Pages 9018-9019]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 566--DESIGNATING JUNE 2008 AS ``NATIONAL APHASIA 
   AWARENESS MONTH'' AND SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF 
                                APHASIA

  Mr. JOHNSON submitted the following resolution; which was considered 
and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 566

       Whereas aphasia is a communication impairment caused by 
     brain damage, typically resulting from a stroke;
       Whereas, while aphasia is most often the result of stroke 
     or brain injury, it can also occur with other neurological 
     disorders, such as in the case of a brain tumor;
       Whereas many people with aphasia also have weakness or 
     paralysis in their right leg and right arm, usually due to 
     damage to the left hemisphere of the brain, which controls

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     language and movement on the right side of the body;
       Whereas the effects of aphasia may include a loss or 
     reduction in ability to speak, comprehend, read, and write, 
     while intelligence remains intact;
       Whereas stroke is the 3rd leading cause of death in the 
     United States, ranking behind heart disease and cancer;
       Whereas stroke is a leading cause of serious, long-term 
     disability in the United States;
       Whereas there are about 5,000,000 stroke survivors in the 
     United States;
       Whereas it is estimated that there are about 750,000 
     strokes per year in the United States, with approximately \1/
     3\ of these resulting in aphasia;
       Whereas aphasia affects at least 1,000,000 people in the 
     United States;
       Whereas more than 200,000 Americans acquire the disorder 
     each year;
       Whereas the National Aphasia Association is unique and 
     provides communication strategies, support, and education for 
     people with aphasia and their caregivers throughout the 
     United States; and
       Whereas as an advocacy organization for people with aphasia 
     and their caregivers, the National Aphasia Association 
     envisions a world that recognizes this ``silent'' disability 
     and provides opportunity and fulfillment for those affected 
     by aphasia: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of, and encourages all 
     Americans to observe, National Aphasia Awareness Month in 
     June 2008;
       (2) recognizes that strokes, a primary cause of aphasia, 
     are the third largest cause of death and disability in the 
     United States;
       (3) acknowledges that aphasia deserves more attention and 
     study in order to find new solutions for serving individuals 
     experiencing aphasia and their caregivers; and
       (4) must make the voices of those with aphasia heard 
     because they are often unable to communicate their condition 
     to others.

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