Craig Hospital Aphasia Therapy (CHAT)

Craig Hospital Aphasia Therapy (CHAT)

Craig Hospital is a world-renowned rehabilitation hospital that exclusively specializes in neurorehabilitation and research for individuals with spinal cord injury and brain injury. Located in the Denver suburb of Englewood, Colorado, Craig provides a comprehensive system of inpatient and outpatient medical care, rehabilitation, and long-term follow up services.

Established in 2017, Craig Hospital Aphasia Therapy (CHAT) is an intensive, outpatient aphasia therapy program for individuals with aphasia as a result of traumatic or other acquired brain injury.

What Makes the CHAT Program Unique?

The CHAT program is designed not only to enhance verbal communication, but also to provide you and your loved ones with a deeper understanding of your specific type of aphasia. This is achieved through intensive, one-on-one therapy that offers a level of insight and support unmatched by other approaches. All therapists in the CHAT program are licensed and/or certified professionals as required in their respective fields.

Our goal is to facilitate the restoration of language and word-finding abilities through evidence-based treatment modalities. Additionally, we incorporate embodied practices as supplementary tools to educate patients on the intricate relationship between the body’s systems and their role in aphasia recovery.

As speech therapists, we advocate for the use of all available communication methods, yet the primary focus of the CHAT program is to improve verbal communication. Through CHAT, patients discover new strategies for word retrieval and gain greater control over their aphasia, empowering them to apply these techniques as they navigate their unique experience with aphasia. Patients have demonstrated improvement in standardized testing, connected speech measures, communication confidence, quality of life, and self-efficacy through the use of diverse, patient centered treatment approaches. These improvements are present in the CHAT sessions as well as outside of the program as described by both participants and their care partners. Included in the program is care partner training that teaches how to best support successful communication outside of the clinic.

Schedule Overview

Participants will take part in a three-week intensive language program that includes pre- and post-assessment (1 day at the beginning of the program and one day at the end of the program). The treatment program will consist of at least 3-4 hours of individual speech-language therapy a day over a span of 15 consecutive business days. The remaining hours are supplemented with additional therapy options if appropriate, totaling a minimum of 20 hours of treatment per week. These therapies include neurologic music therapy, assistive technology (AT)/augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), CHAT group, therapeutic yoga-based speech interventions, as well as care partner and family education.

Adjunct Programs

In addition to receiving intensive speech-language therapy, patients will also be enrolled in our adjunct therapy sessions.

CHAT Outcomes

Due to the highly personalized nature of our CHAT program, goals and outcomes are tailored to each patient’s unique needs and can vary significantly. For example, some individuals experience substantial improvements in storytelling and grammar, while others focus on developing the ability to communicate their wants and needs effectively at the single-word level. Regardless of their starting point, patients can expect an enhancement in their language abilities by the end of the program that feels noticeably different from their starting point. They can also expect to leave with a much deeper understanding of their aphasia and the strategies that most effectively support their language.

Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria

Each patient will be screened for appropriateness of fit prior to acceptance into the program. The basic inclusion criteria for all applicants are as follows:

• Must have an aphasia diagnosis associated with stroke, tumor resection, or traumatic brain injury
• Must be able to tolerate at least 3-4 hours of individual therapy per day
• Must have basic comprehension abilities (e.g., be able to follow simple directions, be able to consistently understand yes/no questions)
• Use at least a few words appropriately most of the time (like family members’ names, “bathroom,” or “tv”)
• Must be self-motivated: patient has actively expressed that they want to work on their talking
• Must feel that their quality of life has been significantly affected by aphasia

Program Dates

CHAT program cycles are three weeks long and typically begin on the first Monday of the month. While it varies, we tend to book out at least 3-4 months. Our schedulers will work with you to find a start date that best suits your needs. Based on experience, CHAT is ideal for patients who have lived with their aphasia for at least several months. We often find that a patient’s tolerance of the therapy intensity best determines readiness for the program. Program suitability will be determined on a case-by-case basis and will involve a personalized screener via video call with our coordinator.

Program Cost

For this multi-disciplinary, approximately 60-hour intensive program, the cost is $16,000. The CHAT program is self-pay only as we are unable to bill insurance. Scholarship opportunities are available on a limited, financial need basis.

• A lunch stipend will be provided for patients each weekday at our on-site bistro.
• On-campus housing is available at an additional cost, as needed for those who live more than 60 miles away from Craig Hospital. Some of our participants prefer to stay at local hotels or rental properties.
• A 10% deposit ($1,600) is required to reserve a slot in the program. The remaining installments are paid on each Monday of the program.

Telehealth

The CHAT program is also able to offer comprehensive intensive therapy programs virtually. Appropriateness of telehealth will be decided on a limited case-by-case basis during a virtual intake screening by a CHAT clinician. Please note that program cost does not change and adjunct programs may be modified for virtual participants. Cost is determined by evidence-based treatment outcomes which demonstrate that CHAT’s efficacy remains the same when comparing virtual vs. in-person programs. The CHAT program has offered over 400 hours of high-quality, effective telehealth services to date.

“I thought my speech was lost forever. I communicated through charades or phone apps or worse, I skipped communication. Today, I’m talking with my family and friends, having long conversations, and they can understand me now! The CHAT program is life-changing and life-saving.” – CHAT patient via typing

Contact Us

If you have any questions, please give us a call at 303-789-8429 or send an email to CHAT@craighospital.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

Meet Our Team

CHAT Stories