The Macau Rehabilitation Association co-hosted a seminar in conjunction with the Macau Brain Health Peer Association and Macao Association of Speech Therapists (MAST) on Saturday titled “Application and Future Prospects of Innovative Technologies in Aphasia Rehabilitation”, aiming to enhance rehabilitation opportunities for patients afflicted with aphasia*.
The one-day seminar was held at the Areia Preta Health Centre (黑沙環衛生中心).
According to a statement by the organisers, stroke prevalence remains critically high in Hong Kong, which records 25,000 new cases per year, while Macau records 1,000 new cases a year, with 40 percent of the stroke patients developing aphasia – yet Macau’s speech therapy resources remain inadequate to address the severe rehabilitation challenges of chronic language disorders, the statement said.
Chiu Man Ling, president of the Macau Rehabilitation Association and Macau Brain Health Peer Association, said, according to the statement, that the seminar aimed to advance aphasia rehabilitation through academic exchange –raising awareness of innovative technologies, accelerating their clinical adoption, and mobilising societal support for neurorehabilitation initiatives. Dr Chiu called on all stakeholders to collectively strengthen the ecosystem for brain disorder recovery.
The statement pointed out that the seminar highlighted University of Hong Kong (HKU) Prof. Anthony Kong’s groundbreaking “SpeechOn” App – integrating AI with blocked repetition therapy** to improve speech recovery - alongside workshops by Macau therapists, fostering impactful cross-border exchanges igniting hope among patients, caregivers, and clinicians, the statement said.
According to the statement, the Macau Rehabilitation Association and Macau Brain Health Peer Association, in collaboration with partnering speech therapists, will launch an in-depth implementation programme for the “SpeechOn” App, actively recruiting aphasia patients to maximise the therapeutic potential of this innovative technology and rekindle rehabilitation hope for affected individuals.
*Aphasia is a language disorder that affects a person’s ability to communicate. It is typically caused by damage to the brain, most commonly from a stroke, but it can also result from head injuries, brain tumours, infections, or degenerative neurological conditions. – DeepSeek
** Blocked repetition therapy is a technique often used in speech therapy, particularly for individuals with aphasia or stuttering. It involves repeating a target word, phrase, or sound multiple times in a structured (“blocked”) manner to improve speech motor planning, fluency, and articulation. – DeepSeek
Macau Rehabilitation Association and Macau Brain Health Peer Association President Chiu Man Ling (fourth from left), University of Hong Kong (HKU) Professor Anthony Kong (fifth from left) and other participants pose during Saturday’s seminar at the Areia Preta Health Centre. – Photo: Maria Cheang Ut Meng
