How to Stimulate Language After a Stroke
- Talk about things that you enjoy – family, friends, hobbies - go through family photo albums.
- Use any visuals that may be of assistance. Please see Therapy Materials, Aphasia Treatment Section for Visuals to be used to enhance language.
- Try SINGING! Sing, or even begin by humming some of your favorite songs together! Even simple ones such as "happy birthday". Research has shown that music that is mostly stored in the right side of the brain, stimulates the damaged left side of the brain after a stroke, so SING, SING, SING!
- Talk about things that are important – feelings, responsibilities, problems, finances
- Watch game shows that use language or math – for example, Jeopardy, Who Wants To Be A Millionare, Family Feud, The Price Is Right, Wheel of Fortune
- Play board games that stimulate language – for example Cranium, Pictionary, Mystery Garden Game, Brain Quest, Apples to Apples, Trigon, Go to the Head of the Class, Trivia, Scattergories, Scrabble. If a game is too hard, use the easier questions, take away the timer, or buy the Junior version. Play for fun, not for points!
- MOST IMPORTANTLY - You may continue doing the hobbies and activities you've always done!
Tips to increase Talking after Stroke
· Allow extra time to talk.
· Noise can make it harder to listen.
Turn off the TV, radio, CD player.
Sit away from the air conditioner, washing machine, dish washer.
Don’t try to talk in the car or on the street.
· Use photos or simple drawings
· Write down “key words’, the most important ideas in the discussion.
· Check frequently to see if the other person understood.
· If they don’t understand, try to say it another way. Be flexible.
· Remember that it can be frustrating for everyone. Try to stay calm, and keep
your sense of humor!
Communicating with the Aphasic Patient
1. Make the patient's daily schedule of activities as routine as possible. A structured day improves the patients' orientation and memory allowing them to take on greater responsibility in their rehabilitation.
2. Try to provide communication stimulation during routine patient care activities. For example, as you feed them, talk about the foods they are eating for dinner, the classification, the way the foods they are eating are prepared.
3. Never discuss anything in the presence of the aphasic patient that you would not want them to hear. Even the patient who's comprehension is poor may attend to body language such as facial expression, which may result in the patient becoming confused or frightened.
4. Encourage the patient to participate in group activities to promote socialization and language stimulation.
5. Don't discuss the patient's business or personal matters with them when they are fatigued or become upset. Postpone it for another time.
6. Be sure you have the patient's attention before beginning any communication. Touch them on the shoulder, wait until they are looking at you and then begin.
7. For best results, the environment in which you are communicating should be quiet and calm, and as relaxed as possible for optimal communication.
8. The patient is an adult and should be continued to be treated as one. Although there may be comprehension difficulties, they are aware that they are adults, and treating them any other way is demoralizing.
9. Speak slowly, using natural pauses. Use your natural voice. Don't shout, the patient is not deaf or hard of hearing, they are aphasic.
10. Keep instructions or questions short, simple, direct, and answerable with a "yes" or "no". Use gestures or visual cues whenever possible.
11. If the patient does not understand or respond appropriately, tell them that they did not understand you, pause, and repeat, possibly rewording it.
12. If the patient is trying to tell you something and you are unable to understand, ask simple questions and use simple gestures until they indicate that you have found the subject area.
13. If all techniques fail, and you do not know what the patient is trying to tell you, admit it, saying "I'm sorry, I don't understand. Maybe we can try again later."
14. Give the aphasic time to respond, don't interrupt, or try to fill in for them.
15. Often an aphasic patient is able to say a word one moment, but not the next, or repeat it again at a later time, Don't say, "You said it yesterday, you can say it again" By giving the patient just the beginning sound of the word they are trying to say, may be helpful. Or describing similar words or what it's used for.
16. When the aphasic patient makes a mistake, try to minimize the frustration by saying, "That's hard to get out".
17. Don't correct errors. Try re-stating what you think they were trying to get out.
18. In group situations, don't talk for the aphasic patient, or don't talk as if they were not in the room.
19. Be realistic, Telling them that "Your speech will come back" will not make them feel better in the long run. Instead, be honest, "We can't tell how much speech will return. You just have to try your best."
20. Try not to show your frustration or take your frustration out on the patient.
2. Try to provide communication stimulation during routine patient care activities. For example, as you feed them, talk about the foods they are eating for dinner, the classification, the way the foods they are eating are prepared.
3. Never discuss anything in the presence of the aphasic patient that you would not want them to hear. Even the patient who's comprehension is poor may attend to body language such as facial expression, which may result in the patient becoming confused or frightened.
4. Encourage the patient to participate in group activities to promote socialization and language stimulation.
5. Don't discuss the patient's business or personal matters with them when they are fatigued or become upset. Postpone it for another time.
6. Be sure you have the patient's attention before beginning any communication. Touch them on the shoulder, wait until they are looking at you and then begin.
7. For best results, the environment in which you are communicating should be quiet and calm, and as relaxed as possible for optimal communication.
8. The patient is an adult and should be continued to be treated as one. Although there may be comprehension difficulties, they are aware that they are adults, and treating them any other way is demoralizing.
9. Speak slowly, using natural pauses. Use your natural voice. Don't shout, the patient is not deaf or hard of hearing, they are aphasic.
10. Keep instructions or questions short, simple, direct, and answerable with a "yes" or "no". Use gestures or visual cues whenever possible.
11. If the patient does not understand or respond appropriately, tell them that they did not understand you, pause, and repeat, possibly rewording it.
12. If the patient is trying to tell you something and you are unable to understand, ask simple questions and use simple gestures until they indicate that you have found the subject area.
13. If all techniques fail, and you do not know what the patient is trying to tell you, admit it, saying "I'm sorry, I don't understand. Maybe we can try again later."
14. Give the aphasic time to respond, don't interrupt, or try to fill in for them.
15. Often an aphasic patient is able to say a word one moment, but not the next, or repeat it again at a later time, Don't say, "You said it yesterday, you can say it again" By giving the patient just the beginning sound of the word they are trying to say, may be helpful. Or describing similar words or what it's used for.
16. When the aphasic patient makes a mistake, try to minimize the frustration by saying, "That's hard to get out".
17. Don't correct errors. Try re-stating what you think they were trying to get out.
18. In group situations, don't talk for the aphasic patient, or don't talk as if they were not in the room.
19. Be realistic, Telling them that "Your speech will come back" will not make them feel better in the long run. Instead, be honest, "We can't tell how much speech will return. You just have to try your best."
20. Try not to show your frustration or take your frustration out on the patient.
