WHAT IS APHASIA

Aphasia is a communication disorder resulting from injury to the area of the brain that controls words and language.  People with Aphasia may have difficulty in understanding what is said to them and in finding the words to have a conversation.

Aphasia can lead to:

  • Difficulty in saying any words, including very familiar ones such as family names
  • Saying words that sound muddled up or that have the wrong sounds in them
  • Using the ‘wrong’ words or names for things
  • Difficulties with reading, writing, calculation, money and telling the time.

Aphasia can be very frustrating and distressing for everyone affected.  People with Aphasia may become tired very quickly and be more emotional than usual.  However, intelligence and memory are usually not affected.

GETTING HELP

Through working with a speech and language therapist, people with Aphasia and their families can develop ways to communicate.  This may involve a period of assessment and therapy, looking at different ways to help in getting the message across and new ways to communicate.  As well as the person with Aphasia developing new skills, family and friends can learn ways to help with conversation to reduce the frustration caused by Aphasia.

USEFUL TIPS

Try and keep the room quiet, turn off the TV or radio or any other distractions as these can make concentration much more difficult.  Make sure you can be seen clearly and the person realises you are talking, for example, say their name and touch their hand.

Keep conversations short, with plenty of breaks and quiet times.  Try and have only one or two people visiting at a time.

Put together a collection of family photographs, pictures of favourite places and hobbies, familiar things, to use in conversation for when the person can’t find the words.

When talking with someone who may have difficulty understanding, keep your sentences short.  Try not to keep changing the topic.  Use pointing and gestures to help orientate the person to what you are talking about.  Sometimes it can help if you write a word down.

Sometimes asking questions which only need short answers or giving a choice of answers can reduce frustration.  However, unfortunately sometimes ‘yes’ and ‘no’ can be easily confused.

Try not to ask a person to repeat after you or struggle for a long time to find a word.

Try to let the person know if you haven’t understood them.  Sometimes it is better to have a break from trying to understand what is being communicated than to keep on trying.

Whilst in hospital, it may be useful for the person with Aphasia to have a diary that visitors and hospital staff can write in.  This can be a useful way of leaving messages and also stimulating conversation topics.

Sometimes, visiting times can be distressing when conversation is difficult.  Try playing games, such as dominoes and card games, or look at photo albums and magazines.

WHAT IS APHASIA

Aphasia is a communication disorder resulting from injury to the area of the brain that controls words and language.  People with Aphasia may have difficulty in understanding what is said to them and in finding the words to have a conversation.

Aphasia can lead to:

  • Difficulty in saying any words, including very familiar ones such as family names
  • Saying words that sound muddled up or that have the wrong sounds in them
  • Using the ‘wrong’ words or names for things
  • Difficulties with reading, writing, calculation, money and telling the time.

Aphasia can be very frustrating and distressing for everyone affected.  People with Aphasia may become tired very quickly and be more emotional than usual.  However, intelligence and memory are usually not affected.

GETTING HELP

Through working with a speech and language therapist, people with Aphasia and their families can develop ways to communicate.  This may involve a period of assessment and therapy, looking at different ways to help in getting the message across and new ways to communicate.  As well as the person with Aphasia developing new skills, family and friends can learn ways to help with conversation to reduce the frustration caused by Aphasia.

USEFUL TIPS

Try and keep the room quiet, turn off the TV or radio or any other distractions as these can make concentration much more difficult.  Make sure you can be seen clearly and the person realises you are talking, for example, say their name and touch their hand.

Keep conversations short, with plenty of breaks and quiet times.  Try and have only one or two people visiting at a time.

Put together a collection of family photographs, pictures of favourite places and hobbies, familiar things, to use in conversation for when the person can’t find the words.

When talking with someone who may have difficulty understanding, keep your sentences short.  Try not to keep changing the topic.  Use pointing and gestures to help orientate the person to what you are talking about.  Sometimes it can help if you write a word down.

Sometimes asking questions which only need short answers or giving a choice of answers can reduce frustration.  However, unfortunately sometimes ‘yes’ and ‘no’ can be easily confused.

Try not to ask a person to repeat after you or struggle for a long time to find a word.

Try to let the person know if you haven’t understood them.  Sometimes it is better to have a break from trying to understand what is being communicated than to keep on trying.

Whilst in hospital, it may be useful for the person with Aphasia to have a diary that visitors and hospital staff can write in.  This can be a useful way of leaving messages and also stimulating conversation topics.

Sometimes, visiting times can be distressing when conversation is difficult.  Try playing games, such as dominoes and card games, or look at photo albums and magazines.