Speech therapy can often help those whose speech is affected by a stroke

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My mother had a stroke six months ago. His mobility has returned to almost normal, but he still has some difficulty communicating. He can read and understand others when they speak, but he often struggles to find the words he means. Although she is frustrated, she refuses to try speech therapy, saying it will not help. Could speech therapy help someone like my mother?

ANSWER: The effectiveness of speech therapy for people who do communication difficulties after a stroke it depends on many factors, including the area of ​​the brain affected by the stroke, the severity of the brain damage, the person’s awareness of their difficulty, and their ability to learn and apply strategies. In general, speech therapy can help those whose speech is affected by a stroke, just as other types of rehabilitation can help them if they have to re-learn other skills lost due to a stroke.

Strokes can affect speech, which is the physical production of sounds, and language, which is the mental representation of words, their meanings, and the rules for combining words. People who experience a stroke may have difficulty with speech, language, or both.

Finding words is part of language. The medical term for language difficulty due to a stroke is “aphasia.” Aphasia can affect a person’s ability to understand what they hear or read, find words, properly combine word forms, and form complete sentences. Aphasia, which can be a major barrier to clear communication, often causes frustration.

Working with a speech therapist can help. The goal of language and language therapy for aphasia is to improve restaurant communication as much language as possible, teaching to compensate for the loss. language skills, and learn other methods of communication

Speech language pathologists, sometimes called speech therapists, use various techniques to improve communication. After an initial assessment by a speech therapist, rehabilitation may include working one-on-one with a speech therapist and participating in groups with others who have aphasia. The group environment can be particularly helpful because it provides a low-stress environment where people can practice communication skills, such as starting a conversation, speaking in turn, and clearing up misunderstandings.

A language pathologist can also direct your mother to resources she can use outside of language therapy sessions, such as computer programs and mobile apps, to help her relearn words and sounds. Accessories and communication aids, such as pictures, note cards with common phrases, and a small block of paper and pen, are often encouraged as part of oral language rehabilitation and can improve a person’s ability to convey. his thoughts.

You, another family members and friends can also help your mom rebuild her communication skills. Include her constantly in conversations. Give him plenty of time to talk. Don’t finish sentences for her or correct mistakes. Turn off your TV and other electronic devices while talking to minimize distractions. Allow time for a relaxed conversation.

Recovery of language skills can be a slow process. With patience and persistence, however, most people can progress significantly, even if they do not fully return to the level of function they had before a stroke. It is important to seek treatment for aphasia, as if left untreated, communication barriers can lead to embarrassment, relationship problems, and in some cases depression.

Continue to encourage your mom to make an appointment with her reference professional to discuss speech-language therapy. They should be able to help find a speech.language pathologist who has experience working with people who have had a stroke.

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