Stroke Speech Therapy
Has your loved one recently experienced a stroke? Is it more challenging for them to communicate after the incident?
Let your loved ones reconnect with you and the world by working with our speech-language pathologists.
Reconnect with Loved Ones After a Stroke
A stroke survivor may have a hard time communicating again with others. This can range from minor difficulties up to a complete loss of communication skills.
When a stroke occurs, blood clots cause the brain’s blood supply to stop. The brain tissue loses access to oxygen and results in significant brain damage. In some cases, it affects the left hemisphere of the brain, which has its language center. This can lead to a number of complications, including aphasia, dysarthria, or more at once.
Such situations can be challenging for both the stroke victim and the family. However, receiving treatment and rehabilitation can help significantly with better communication.
If you or your loved one would like to…
…speech therapy can help.
By relearning language and speaking skills or introducing alternative ways to communicate, speech therapy helps you and your loved one reconnect and communicate better.
With enough practice through the help of your speech pathologist, it is possible for them to regain most if not all of their speaking abilities. The goal of our speech therapy program is to help you be able to reconnect with them.
Aphasia
Aphasia is a language disorder that generally affects how a stroke patient may speak. It may also affect how they understand language.
The effects on communication skills may vary with mild aphasia (only one form like speech) or severe aphasia (several forms such as speech AND writing skills).
It is often caused by a barrier to one’s language center in the brain. People with aphasia often know exactly what they want to say. However, they are unable to get the words out or else the words they end up saying don’t make sense as they intend to.
Some common types of aphasia include:
Speech recovery for people with aphasia may vary due to different types and level of severity. It’s important to get a proper evaluation as soon as possible to help find the right ways to help.
Can my loved one still recover?
Recovery from the effects of stroke varies. Regardless of this, speech and language therapy can help your loved one exercise and improve their skill recovery.
Speech language therapy aims to restore natural and day-to-day speech habits, foster good conversation and reintroduce them to everyday activities.
In such cases where people never fully regain their speaking and writing skills, speech-language pathologists can also introduce alternative methods of communication (AAC). These manual or electronic devices may help bring back their confidence in reaching out to other people.
Dysarthria
Dysarthria is a motor speech disorder where someone has a hard time speaking due to weak muscles. Unlike aphasia, dysarthria affects motor skills, meaning it doesn’t affect someone’s language skills.
People experiencing dysarthria may exhibit slurred, mumbled or even monotonous speech. Speech-language pathologists may focus on the oral motor skills in therapy. They may teach you and your loved one proper techniques for achieving clearer speech.
Apraxia of Speech for Adults
Apraxia of Speech can also affect adults, especially after a stroke or brain injury. It occurs when the messages from your brain don’t get through to your oral muscles properly.
Adults with apraxia switch letters and words around when they speak. Speech-language therapists work with Apraxia by teaching the muscles and the brain on how to produce the right sounds. With the right apraxia treatment exercises, your loved one may recover in a shorter period of time.
How much time will it take for them to recover?
A combination of effective speech therapy and persistent practice works best. Your speech-language pathologist assists in making sure that they recover communication skills in good time.
Practice will help with recovery time. With online speech therapy services, you can consistently practice with them in the comfort of your home.
Swallowing/Choking/Dysphagia
In case of stroke or brain injury, complex activities such as swallowing may also be hard to do. Dysphagia is a motor disorder that affects someone’s ability to swallow.
People with dysphagia experience choking or other challenges with eating and drinking. They may also have persistent drooling. If untreated, dysphagia can lead to further issues such as aspiration (food or liquids go into the airway instead of the stomach).
Speech therapists can work with a stroke patient and help them use their muscles to swallow. Posture and positioning guides can help as well as dietary suggestions for foods that are easier to intake.
Our Services
How NK Speech Therapy Can Help
Speech Therapy
Our licensed speech pathologist can help you retrain and exercise proper speech habits personalized towards their evaluation and diagnosis. They may also assist in providing more alternatives to communication. Our aim is for them to better participate in conversations with family and friends in the long run.
Swallowing Therapy
Navigate through the swallowing difficulties with our licensed speech pathologist through exercises and proper diet recommendations. Bringing your family together at the dining table again is our priority.