Paul Flinter and Trish Doyle
BRAIN injury survivor Paul Flinter is launching Talking Heads, a support group for anyone living with aphasia in and around Carlow. This group will begin meeting at the Cabin Café, The Old School House, Barrack Street, Carlow on Friday afternoons from 3 May, but Paul also has plans to launch a national aphasia support group online.
Aphasia is a disorder affecting a person’s ability to understand and/or use words, sentences and conversation resulting from damage or injury to a specific area in the brain.
Research shows that up to 10,000 people in Ireland are diagnosed with a stroke each year, and approximately one-third of them will experience aphasia.
Paul experienced this first-hand in 2022, when he acquired a brain injury as the result of a stroke at the age of 52. “The stroke left me completely paralysed on my right side and with a brain injury which has caused aphasia. I had never heard of this before and was only made aware of this when it happened to me. Having aphasia can be very frustrating, not just for me but other people as well. The lack of understanding and knowledge around it has spurred me on to create this group.”
Paul was fortunate to have the help of his family and ABI Ireland, but he realised not everyone has access to that support. Supported by his ABI Ireland community rehabilitation assistant Anna Henebery, Paul is establishing Talking Heads to provide people living with aphasia with opportunities to socialise and feel heard.
“Not everyone has access to online support groups, and when you are living with aphasia, you feel isolated. I want there to be a place where people like me can go and share their stories and not feel alone. I will not allow myself to be defined by aphasia and I hope this group shows others that it doesn’t define you,” said Paul.
“I’ve had incredible help from my rehabilitation assistant Anna from Acquired Brain Injury Ireland in putting me in touch with Valerie McDonald from Carlow County Development Partnership (CCDP). They have been amazing in providing the premises for our group meetings. I would also like to thank local councillors for their support, Sandra my assistant from IWA (Irish Wheelchair Association), who helps me daily. Also of huge help was Dr Helen Kelly at University Hospital Cork (UHC). But the person who has been a great girlfriend, friend and now wife is Trish,” said Paul.
Paul is encouraging anyone with Aphasia to join the Talking Heads support group. If you are interested in joining, contact Paul at [email protected].
