Group Activities

To improve language and communication skills, the Aphasia Center offers sessions (each session lasts 8 weeks) that include various group activities. There is a registration fee for group membership for these sessions.

The groups offered by the center include the following:

• Math Group focuses on improving language and numerical reasoning skills through time and money management activities.
• Game Group uses interactive games to help develop communication, problem-solving and social skills.
• Technology Group focuses on improving verbal expression, comprehension, functional reading skills, as well as technology skills and knowledge.
• Conversation Group aims to improve communication and social interactions. Conversation is facilitated by a speech-language pathologist via different communication methods to ensure all attendees’ needs are met.
• Writing Group focuses on developing writing skills as appropriate for each person.
• Book Club offers opportunities to improve reading, writing and verbal expression through interactive book discussion.
• Music Group aims to enhance conversational skills and group discussions based on conversation related to musical themes and genres, such as country, jazz and others.

Virtual groups and individual sessions are also available. Virtual sessions are scheduled week-to-week. You can join a virtual session at any time.

Schedules and Membership Fees

Each 8-week group session includes 3 hours of group time once a week. Different scheduling options are available.

Aphasia Center group membership fees are not covered by insurance. The membership fee includes all materials, except for the book needed for Book Club. Scholarship options are available, based on your financial needs.

Please call 630.909.8562 for scheduling options and to learn more about membership fees.

One-on-One Sessions

One-on-one sessions are available for an additional fee. You may also choose to be included in aphasia research studies coordinated by Marianjoy clinicians.

Additional Offerings

Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) Group

For people with PPA and their care partners, we offer group programming for education, support and practicing communication skills.

Virtual Groups

You can participate in group programs virtually. This allows you to receive group services from your home.

Northwestern Medicine Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program (ICAP)

The ICAP involves four weeks of intensive speech therapy. It aims to help people with aphasia maximize their ability to communicate.

You can enroll full- or part-time. You will work with skilled speech-language pathologists in one-on-one and group sessions for multiple hours each day, four days a week.

Contact the Aphasia Center

To register for the Aphasia Center or if you have questions, please contact Michelle Armour, MS, CCC-SLP, at 630.909.8562 or michelle.armour@nm.org.

Meet the Aphasia Center Founder

Michelle Armour, MS, CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist, program coordinator, and founder of the Northwestern Medicine Aphasia Center at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital. She specializes in stroke rehabilitation and has a specific interest in neurogenic communication disorders.

Armour has published work related to these areas for people with aphasia:

• Supportive communication
• Quality of life
• Acute inpatient rehabilitation

She is vice president of Aphasia Access and served for four years as founding co-chair on the Aphasia and Other Communication Disorders Task Force through the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine.