III 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 512 

Designating June 2010 as ‘‘National Aphasia Awareness Month’’ and 

supporting efforts to increase awareness of aphasia. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 3, 2010 

Mr. JOHNSON submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Designating June 2010 as ‘‘National Aphasia Awareness 

Month’’ and supporting efforts to increase awareness 

of aphasia. 

Whereas aphasia is a communication impairment caused by 

brain damage that typically results from a stroke; 

Whereas aphasia can also occur with other neurological disorders, such as a brain tumor; 

Whereas many people with aphasia also have weakness or paralysis in the right leg and right arm, usually due to 

damage to the left hemisphere of the brain, which controls language and movement on the right side of the 

body; 

Whereas the effects of aphasia may include a loss of or reduction in the ability to speak, comprehend, read, and 


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•SRES 512 IS 

write, but the intelligence of a person with aphasia remains intact; 

Whereas according to the National Institute of Neurological 

Disorders and Stroke (referred to in this preamble as the 

‘‘NINDS’’), stroke is the third-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 the NINDS estimates that there are about 

5,000,000 stroke survivors in the United States; 

Whereas the NINDS estimates that people in the United 

States suffer about 750,000 strokes per year, with approximately 1⁄3 of the strokes resulting in aphasia; 

Whereas according to the NINDS, aphasia affects at least 

1,000,000 people in the United States; 

Whereas the NINDS estimates that more than 200,000 people in the United States acquire the disorder each year; 

Whereas the National Aphasia Association is a unique organization that 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 the ‘‘silent’’ disability of 

aphasia and provides opportunity and fulfillment for people affected by aphasia: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates June 2010 as ‘‘National Aphasia 

3 Awareness Month’’; 


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1 (2) supports efforts to increase awareness of 

2 aphasia; 

3 (3) recognizes that strokes, a primary cause of 

4 aphasia, are the third-largest cause of death and dis5 ability in the United States; 

6 (4) acknowledges that aphasia deserves more 

7 attention and study in order to find new solutions 

8 for individuals experiencing aphasia and their care9 givers; 

10 (5) supports efforts to make the voices of peo11 ple with aphasia heard, because people with aphasia 

12 are often unable to communicate with others; and 

13 (6) encourages all people in the United States 

14 to observe National Aphasia Awareness Month with 

15 appropriate events and activities. 

Æ 


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