Life after stroke: Tips for recovering communication skills

Every year in the United States, more than 795,000 people have a stroke, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Furthermore, the United Kingdom's Stroke Association note that 1 in 3 people will experience communication problems after a stroke.

Unfortunately, we often judge people on how well they communicate. From the outside, a person who has difficulty speaking may appear to have difficulty thinking, too, but this is not necessarily true.

For a person who has had a stroke, the ability to think and communicate depends on the part, or parts, of the brain that have been affected.

Having a stroke can be a frightening and frustrating experience. Not being able to tell people what is going on in the aftermath can extend the trauma.

Friends and family members, for their part, can also find themselves tongue-tied. They may feel embarrassed, lost for words, or they may think that this is no longer the person they once knew.

Post-stroke rehabilitation can help people to regain some or all of their skills. Speech therapists specialize in communication, but nonspecialists can also play a key role.

It is important for friends and relatives to understand that what a person expresses on the outside, after a stroke, is not necessarily what is going on in their head. They should also remember that, although a person faces new challenges after experiencing a stroke, they are still the same person.

This article will offer some tips from people who have "been there" that can give us the necessary skills for helping someone get back to communicating after a stroke.

Written by Yvette Brazier

Published: Wednesday 11 January 2017