A stroke is nothing short of a life changing event. It is the 5th leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States. Depending on the severity and location of a stroke, the brain can be affected in a variety of different ways. Paralysis, speech issues, memory loss, and vision problems are all common repercussions of a stroke. Recently, a lesser-known stroke-related injury has come to light thanks to celebrity Bruce Willis paving the way for an outpouring of support for older adults affected by aphasia.
In March 2022, Willis’s family announced that the actor was stepping away from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia. The announcement brought about a mix of sadness and curiosity, with many people wondering just what aphasia is. In honor of affected families and National Stroke Awareness Month, let’s take a closer look at this complex issue.
What Is Aphasia?
According to the American Stroke Association, aphasia is a language disorder that affects a person’s ability to understand and express themselves through speech. The left side of the brain typically influences a person’s ability to use and understand language. When a stroke occurs on the left side of the brain, it can cause aphasia.
A common misperception about the disorder is that it impairs intelligence. Actually, most people with aphasia remain mentally alert even though their speech may be difficult to understand.
Individuals with aphasia may find it difficult to:
- Find the right words to use
- Get their words out
- Pronounce or understand long or uncommon words
- Understand what others are saying
- Read, write, or do math
Below are common types of aphasia:
- Global aphasia: Individuals with this type of aphasia are severely impaired at both forming and understanding words and sentences.
- Broca’s aphasia: A person with Broca’s aphasia has halting speech and may drop words, have difficulty with grammar, or have comprehension issues.
- Wernicke’s aphasia: Those with Wernicke’s aphasia may sound as though they are speaking in sentences, but the words do not make sense. They also have difficulty understanding speech from others.
How to Help People with Aphasia
Aphasia can be an extremely frustrating disorder. Imagine knowing what you want to say to someone, but being unable to say it or having your words come out jumbled or incoherent. We rely on communication in all of our relationships, from personal to professional ones. When the ability to communicate is taken away, it is both frightening and challenging. If aphasia is suspected following a stroke, it is important for the person to seek the support of a doctor and a speech therapist. Family and friends can help by:
- Having open conversations about aphasia so that those communicating with the person are aware of the situation.
- Remembering that aphasia is a language problem and not a hearing problem. Shouting will not help the person understand you.
- Confirming that the person has heard and understood you by using yes/no questions.
- Developing a daily routine that incorporates practice skills from the speech therapist as well as time to rest.
- Keeping sentences short and to the point.
- Reducing noise level when possible and standing near the person with aphasia when communicating.
- Engaging the person with aphasia in conversation and including them in decision-making.
- Helping the person cope with any frustrations that arise.
- Being patient.
If someone you love is a stroke survivor and/or has been diagnosed with aphasia, the expert team at My Personal Home Health Care can help in many ways. We provide a wide range of services that can benefit people recovering from a stroke, including:
- Homemaking care, including meal planning and preparation, light housekeeping, laundry, etc.
- Personal assistance, such as help with bathing, dressing, using the bathroom, eating, etc.
- Assistance with communication, including scheduling appointments and making telephone calls
- Transportation, including errands, appointments, and recreation
- Skilled nursing
- And more
Contact us today online or at (508) 386-3065 to learn more about our in-home care services and how we help stroke survivors improve quality of life and restore independence in the comfort and familiarity of home. Schedule a free in-home consultation to learn about options for in-home care in Hingham, Weston, Concord, Sherborn, Brookline, Newton, Lexington, Plymouth, Norwell, Belmont and Mashpee. See all the communities we serve throughout Massachusetts.
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