Journey of the Czech delegation to Iceland

REPORT FROM THE VISIT TO ICELAND: DAY 1

The Czech delegation to Iceland, consisting of project coordinator Evelina Milfortová, DiS., clinical speech therapist Mgr. Jana Horynova PhD. and clinical speech therapist Mgr. Bc. Michal Kraft, visited the partner Icelandic patient organization Heilaheill on 19 September, where they were welcomed by Mrs. Thorunn Hanna Halldorsdottir M. Sc. and Mrs. Helga Thors PhD, CCC-SLP.

The two patient organisations discussed their cooperation, functioning and preparation for the joint conference. This was followed by a visit to the Rehabilitation Centre in Grensás: website here, where the colleagues toured the facility, heard an introduction to neurorehabilitation in Iceland, a lecture on the statistics of CMP in Iceland ( for reference, this is 400 to 600 people per year out of a total population of 350,000 living in Iceland) and the results of Icelandic research on aphasia.

They learned that only since 2018 they have been doing thrombectomy (mechanical recanalization, mechanically removing a clot in a blood vessel) in Iceland. This has shortened the rehabilitation time and the return of patients to normal life. The practice of the clinic is then that patients are booked in for multiple therapies for one day, but return home to their family in the evening and come back to the clinic the next day . The neurologists stressed that a multidisciplinary approach to each patient works well for them.

A disease that is only found among Icelanders was also discussed, it is called amyloid angiopathy and it is about pathological amyloid deposits in the walls of the blood vessels in the brain and this causes a stroke. It has been found that only a few families in Iceland suffer from this disease and then pass it on to their offspring, who often die from its effects between the ages of 20 and 30, and if they survive the first episode, there is a huge risk that the stroke will recur.

REPORT FROM THE VISIT TO ICELAND: DAY 2

On Friday 20 September, the day started again with a meeting at the Heilaheill organisation, where there was lively discussion and preparation for joint projects, i.e. the preparation of a practical booklet of about 70 pages for group communication for people with acquired brain injury, and the October conference in Prague on 17 October.

In the afternoon there was a scheduled visit to the Kjarkur Comprehensive Rehabilitation Centre, where neurological patients stay from 3 to 24 months and have a comprehensive service including therapies – speech therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, self-help activities, psychologist, nurses and much more. Our Icelandic associate Hana works here every day. Kjarkur Centre website HERE

REPORT FROM THE VISIT TO ICELAND: DAY 3

On Saturday 21 September, the Czech delegation participated in a group speech therapy session in Heilaheill for 10 patients with neurological diagnosis. The therapy was led by 2 speech therapists. The theme for the meeting was to get to know each other better. The clients first dropped their photos into a bag from which they then drew lots among themselves. The drawn participant had to say who he is, when he was born, where he comes from, his interests and say three characteristics that characterize him. If the client was unable to express himself in answering each question, the two speech therapists readily supported him with hints and the other participants waited patiently. They also used communication aid cards. The aim was for the patient to be able to express his communication intention. There was a wonderful, relaxed and supportive atmosphere throughout the group session. The overall therapy was very nicely prepared.

This project is funded by kind support from the EEA and Norway Grants.