Northwestern Medicine Aphasia Center at Marianjoy

Group Activities

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

The eight-week program covers a range of group topics. Attendees participate in all topics, which include the following:

• 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.
• 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.
• Writing Group focuses on 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.

Schedules and Membership Fees

Each eight-week group session includes three 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.

Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program

The Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program (ICAP) involves four weeks of intensive speech services. It aims to help people with aphasia maximize their ability to communicate.

You will work with specialized speech-language pathologists in one-on-one and group sessions for six hours each day, four days a week.

One-on-One Sessions

One-on-one sessions are available for an additional fee. These sessions can be scheduled to be held in person or virtually.

Additional Offerings

Primary Progressive Aphasia Group

For people with primary progressive aphasia (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.

Contact the Aphasia Center

For more information, 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 manager, 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 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.