An acclaimed international award recognising excellence in the study of aphasia has been presented for the first time to a student at The University of Queensland.
The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia Student Prize has been awarded to Speech Pathology Honours graduate Victoria Sandham for her thesis on aphasia, her consistent high grades in aphasia-related subjects and her volunteer work as a student clinician in an intensive aphasia rehabilitation study.
Aphasia is a language disorder that can affect a person’s ability to read, write, talk and understand the spoken word.
Aphasia can occur after stroke or traumatic brain injury or as a result of Alzheimer’s disease.
Ms Sandham said she was honoured to be the first UQ recipient of the Tavistock prize.
“Whilst I am eager to work across several areas of speech pathology, aphasia is certainly a passion of mine,” Ms Sandham said.
“I’ve always considered it a privilege to assist someone to regain as much of their independence as possible after neurological injury.
“The use of neuroimaging techniques has enabled exciting developments in aphasia research and I would very much like the opportunity to work with this population and be able to use this research to inform my clinical practice,” she said.
The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia was founded in 1992 by Henrietta and Robin Bedford.
After suffering a stroke in 1988, Robin Bedford slowly began to recover with the help of medical assistance and intensive speech therapy.
Despite his partial recovery, Bedford continued to live with aphasia until his death in 2003.
The speech pathology program delivered through UQ’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences has a strong focus on aphasia rehabilitation.
Teaching is underpinned by internationally-recognised research in aphasia rehabilitation through the Centre of Clinical Research Excellence in Aphasia, funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council.
Media: Kirsten O’Leary, Communications and Media, University of Queensland Faculty of Health Sciences, 07 3346 4713, 0412307594 or k.oleary@uq.edu.au
