Aphasia occurs when the brain is damaged from a stroke or other traumatic event. People with aphasia can have trouble communicating. They can have difficulty finding and using the right words. They may also have trouble understanding others when they speak to them. These breakdowns in communication can be very frustrating and isolating. Oftentimes the loved ones and caregivers of people with aphasia want to help, but they don’t know how to support communication in adults with aphasia.
The first step is to educate yourself. There’s a lot to learn about aphasia. Many resources are available to help you learn about the causes, symptoms, and prognosis of aphasia. For example, the National Aphasia Association provides information and resources specifically for people with aphasia.
To support communication in adults with aphasia try to be patient. Give them time to process your question before asking another one. Then, give them extra time to respond. People with aphasia may have more difficulty finding words when they feel rushed.
It’s also important to make sure the person with aphasia is working with a speech-language pathologist who has experience treating adults with aphasia. These sessions can happen in person or via telehealth. Whenever possible, ask to be included in the speech therapy sessions. That way, you can learn strategies for supporting communication alongside your loved one.
For those loved ones and caregivers who aren’t able to attend speech therapy sessions, the Caregiver Coaching video series was created just for you.
Our aphasia video courses were designed specifically to help caregivers learn how to support communication in adults with aphasia. The information is presented in a way that’s easy to understand. The videos even include language samples from real people with aphasia. You’ll learn many helpful tips for supporting communication in individuals with aphasia. These tips include compensatory strategies and home practice ideas.
Access our Caregiver Coaching videos here, and start your journey toward supporting your loved one with confidence and hope!
Ongoing language practice is essential for individuals with chronic aphasia to maintain and improve language,…
Maintaining your LSVT Loud voice can be difficult on your own, but joining a Loud…
Individuals who undergo chemotherapy often experience "brain fog" or "chemo brain." Here are several tips…
One client's testimonial describes how speech therapy helped improve his communication despite a diagnosis of…
Many individuals with developmental disabilities, like autism and Down Syndrome, need speech therapy into adulthood.…
Our practice has grown over the past 5 years, including the addition of telehealth appointments…