INTEGRIS James R. Daniel Stroke Center: Post-Stroke Communication: It Just Takes Time

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Post-Stroke Communication: It Just Takes Time
By Nolan Conley, Stroke Survivor

Reprinted from Stroke Connection Magazine September/October 1998 Issue

Information For stroke survivors and caregivers is extremely important. From my own experience with stroke, I have learned you can never learn too much?

But when a stroke leaves you with aphasia, getting your ideas across is a real problem. Aphasia (a-FAY-zhia) is another way of saying, “lack of communication.” Be aware that someone with aphasia has not necessarily lost their ability to think clearly. I often tell new stroke families that even if their loved one does not speak or is hard to understand, that person probably knows more than he or she can communicate. For this reason, it is important not to say anything in front of a survivor that you do not want the survivor to know.

We all know that stroke can weaken a survivor’s communication system, with or without a diagnosis of aphasia. That’s why speech-language therapy is often a component of a typical rehabilitation program. In this case the primary purpose of rehab is to strengthen the remaining language ability or facilitate a new way of communicating. AS a general rule, we see the most improvement in the first six months after a stroke. However, there are times when therapy programs are extended longer. The length of treatment depends on variables such as progressing communication, and motivation level of the individual, medical conditions and help from family caregivers.

Home programs are also essential to the survivor’s recovery. Activities can be done at home to speed up the process of regaining communication skills. One such activity is to act out your question but remember to make it simple. A speech-language therapist develops structured speech activities and home programs. These programs are usually given to patients prior to discharge. If a home program was not provided then, it would be appropriate for family members to request that one be developed. It is very important that the home program be updated on a regular basis, and that any change in the survivor’s skills be reported to the speech-language pathologist.

One final word of caution for the caregiver: It may take 30 seconds or more for a stroke survivor to digest what you have said and then reply. Please be patient. It is tiring and frustrating not to be understood or not to understand others.
Sometimes it just takes a little extra time.

American Stroke Association - A Division of American Heart Association

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