We just started a study with OHSU (our med school) for help with Aphasia. Two members came to our home and met individually with us...one with G to evaluate his various levels and another with me to select topics for "picture books". It went very well as G was "on" that particular day...much work still to come, but I had a phone conference regarding G's levels that was absolutely right on target. As the guy said, G is obviously in transition in many areas and then really pinpointed them. All of this I had been noticing lately, and reaffirmed my feelings. The study promises to be helpful down the road, and I feel very confident about those doing it. I guess it just helps to have others validate my observations.
kathi37 - my husband did very well with picture books (for the short while that he was able to use them). He has moved through the phases so quickly that he was never in one for very long. Hope you husband does well too.
We are not in any such study but I find that when looking at old photo books (we have one for each year since we were married -- that's 44 books!) dh is much more talkative than usual and finds words and names. Ordinarily he is very silent and finds it hard to express anything in conversation. We definitely should look at pictures more.
Picture books were good with Foster. He was an avid reader - and I hated to just remove books from his life. We had books on the Ocean with beautiful pictures, sea shells, which he loved, and he'd sit for an hour turning pages and looking. We didn't discuss the contents,...but I'd ask him, "Is that a good book?"...and he'd say, "Excellent book, Excellent book, I like it!" He'd never reach out for the book though, even if it was on the coffee table in front of him. I'd always show it to him and ask if he wanted to "READ" it. Almost always, it was a YES answer. We had books on his alma mater, Clemson University, touring the campus, football trivia, etc.
He didn't always relate to picture albums. He didn't know who the people were and it frustrated him.
The books I'm discussing are self made ones...not purchased ones. These are made from memories and trigger words that relate to personal events...not off the shelf albums or family albums. This study is funded by the Dept. of Education thru the med school. Apparently creating these "books" is a lengthy and complicated process, so it will be interesting to see the results. Others in my FTD study group have participated in it and felt it worth while.