Speech Language Therapy After a Stroke Information

Speech language therapy is a common treatment after a stroke.

You may have many physical changes after a stroke, and some of them may affect your ability to communicate. You may have problems talking, putting your thoughts into words, or using and understanding words.

How are speech and language affected by a stroke?

A stroke can damage your brain and nervous system. In most people, the left side of the brain controls language and speech, so damage to that area can affect those functions. You may have problems with:

• Understanding spoken or written words.
• Sharing your thoughts by talking. You may have trouble:
  • Speaking clearly.
  • Saying what you mean to say.

What is aphasia?

Aphasia is a condition that affects your ability to communicate with others. A stroke often causes aphasia because of damage to the left side of the brain. This is typically the side that controls the ability to talk and understand language. Symptoms of aphasia include:

• Struggling to think of words and names of people, places, and objects.
• Using the wrong words while talking.
• Making up new words (without knowing it) that do not make sense to other people.
• Problems putting words together into a sentence.
• Difficulty understanding others while they talk.
• Problems with listening, reading, writing, using numbers, or doing math.

How can therapy help?

Speech-language therapy is a common treatment during stroke recovery. It may include doing communication activities, exercising your speech muscles, and practicing speech. It may help you:

• Learn to talk and communicate again.
• Have conversations.
• Use the right words to express ideas.
• Put words together into sentences.
• Learn to speak more clearly so others can understand you.
• Use gestures, sign language, symbols, or other methods to express yourself (aided communication). These can be used in place of speech or to add to what you are able to say. Some aided communication may involve use of electronic devices.

When will therapy start and where will I have therapy?

Your health care provider will decide when it is best for you to start therapy. Some people start rehabilitation, including speech-language therapy, as soon as they are medically stable. This may be 24–48 hours after a stroke.

Rehabilitation can take place in a few different places, based on your needs. It may take place in:

• The hospital or an in-patient rehabilitation hospital.
• An outpatient rehabilitation facility.
• A long-term care facility.
• A community rehabilitation clinic.
• Your home.

How can my family and friends support my recovery?

Your family and friends can help by:

• Being open about your problems.
• Creating or modifying daily routines to make talking and communicating easier.
• Lowering background noise.
• Being patient when you are trying to express your thoughts or understand other people.
• Getting your attention before talking to you.
• Using short and simple sentences and giving you extra time to talk or to respond to questions.
• Talking to you in a normal voice.
• Keeping eye contact with you during conversation.
• Paying attention to your body language.
• Using pictures, written words, or symbols to help you understand.
• Helping you to use aided communication.
• Asking “yes” or “no” questions.
• Praising your speech and progress.

Summary

• Since a stroke results from damage to your brain and nervous system, it can affect your speech and ability to use and understand language
• Aphasia is a condition that affects your ability to communicate with others. A stroke often causes aphasia because of damage to the left side of the brain.
• Speech-language therapy is a common treatment after a stroke.
• Your family and friends can help by being open about your problems, giving you time to form words and sentences, and speaking in short, simple sentences.