Aphasia is a language disorder that affects the way you communicate. It occurs when damage occurs to parts of the brain that control language and speech.
Some people recover relatively quickly from aphasia independently without treatment. Others may need many years of treatment before they can improve their communication.
Here's what you need to know about recovering from aphasia and how to contact Lompoc Valley Medical Center when you're ready to learn more about your available treatment options.
What causes aphasia?
The most common cause of aphasia is a stroke. A stroke can block or burst a blood vessel in the brain. This disrupts blood flow to the brain and can destroy cells that control speech and language.
The brain damage that causes aphasia can also occur as a result of an accident or injury. Examples include a hard blow to the head during a car accident or while exercising. Brain damage can also be caused by a tumor or infection. ThatNational Institutes of Health(NIH) states that gunshot wounds and progressive neurological disorders such asAlzheimercan cause aphasia.
What is the average recovery rate for aphasia?
Recovery from aphasia usually depends on a number of factors. Aphasia affects each person differently. Some recover faster than others, while others do not recover at all.
Factors involved in recovery from aphasia include:
- Severity of brain damage.
- The parts of the brain that are damaged.
- Age of the person.
- The general health of the person.
- Communication problems other than aphasia.
- The person's motivation to recover from aphasia.
- The person's psychological well-being.
Many clinical studies have evaluated the recovery rate of aphasia.
In a 2013 study published in the Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases, researchers looked at how 669 stroke patients were able to recover from aphasia. They found that 38% of the 166 patients who were alive at discharge recovered completely from aphasia. Of the 102 patients seen after six months, 74% experienced complete recovery from aphasia. The researchers said recovery from aphasia is most common in patients with minor strokes.
In another study published in a 2019 issue ofJournal of Speech, Language and Hearing Researchresearchers look at aphasia recovery patterns in the first two weeks after a stroke. They found that 95% of patients with mild aphasia had stable language function after two weeks. Patients with moderate to severe aphasia achieved normal functioning after six and ten weeks.
Suppose you or a loved one has aphasia. If so, your doctors may be able to tell you whether a full recovery is possible based on their experiences with previous patients.
What are the best treatments for aphasia?
The goal of aphasia treatment is to improve your ability to communicate. This may involve focusing on your remaining language skills and recovering lost skills. It may also require you to learn new ways of communicating. For example, you can learn to make certain gestures or draw pictures that will help you communicate effectively with others.
Common treatments for aphasia include:
- Speech and language therapy. Individual and group therapy can strengthen and improve your language and communication skills.
- Medicine. Medicines can improve blood flow to the brain or rebalance certain brain chemicals.
- Participation in social activities. Activities such as book clubs and drama clubs can help you improve your communication skills. They can also help you boost your confidence and self-esteem.
- Support groups. These groups allow people with aphasia to bond and share helpful coping strategies.
Your doctor can work with you to find the best treatments for aphasia based on its severity and the types of treatments you may prefer over others.
What are the signs of recovery from aphasia?
Any degree of recovery from aphasia is positive and can make a big difference in the quality of your life. Your care team will notify you of any progress and changes in your symptoms if they notice them before you do. Staying motivated and having a positive attitude can go a long way in recovery.
Here are common signs of aphasia recovery:
- Speaks in longer sentences.
- Speaks at a faster pace.
- Saying a greater number of things that are meaningful to others.
- Use the correct words and sounds.
- Use real words, as opposed to words that are mixed up or that sound strange to others.
- Finding the right words to say.
- To be able to use more complex, complicated words.
- It's better to be able to follow conversations.
- Being able to interpret words and speak correctly.
- Being able to understand things you read.
- To be able to write meaningful sentences.
- Being able to correctly repeat what someone else says.
- Have greater awareness of what you say and recognize mistakes.
- Feels more confident in social situations.
What are good ways to deal with aphasia?
If full recovery is possible, some people may need several months or years to fully recover from aphasia. As you recover from aphasia, it helps to know healthy, effective coping strategies. Knowing how you're coping with your condition can help you stay optimistic about it and continue working toward improving your symptoms.
Ask your doctor about support groups for people with aphasia or who are recovering from a stroke. These support groups can be helpful, especially if you have recently had a stroke or brain injury. You can learn unique tips and tricks for dealing with aphasia.
Here are some valuable ways to cope with aphasia:
- Bring a card stating that you have aphasia. You can also include the definition of aphasia for people who don't know what it is. You can then show the cards to people you are meeting for the first time or to people you need to communicate with.
- Always carry your ID with you, along with the contact details of your loved ones. This can be useful in situations where people are confused about your condition or have difficulty communicating with you. Your loved ones can come to your rescue and fix things if necessary.
- Always carry a small notebook and a pen or pencil with you. If you find it difficult to speak or others have difficulty understanding you, you can resort to writing things down instead.
- Use drawings, photos or diagrams if you have difficulty speaking.
- Use gestures or point to objects to help others understand what you are saying.
- Start with one-on-one conversations. Talking to one person at a time can make you feel more comfortable, confident, and less overwhelmed.
- Give the other person time to respond. The other person may need extra time to process and understand what you are saying.
- Minimize the time you spend in noisy environments. Background noise can be distracting. It can also make it difficult for you to understand others clearly and for others to understand you clearly.
Coping with aphasia is also crucial for friends and family of someone with this condition. If your loved one has aphasia, here are tips to help you communicate more effectively.
- Talk slower. Slowing down helps the person understand you better.
- Shorten your sentences. Short sentences may be easier for the person to process. As time goes by, you can start experimenting with longer sentences.
- Use simple words. This can make it easier for the person to understand you.
- Give the person time to respond. Your loved one with aphasia may need extra time to think about what you say and come up with an appropriate response.
- Ask questions to clarify what the person is saying. This is important if you are confused by what the person says or if it doesn't make sense. For example, you might ask, "Are you telling me you're hungry?"
- Help your loved one create notebooks with photos, words, diagrams, etc. Your loved one can use this notebook as a tool to communicate with you and others.
- Use drawings, written words and gestures. This is sometimes useful. Your loved one cannot understand you. It may help to take your notebook with you if you live with someone with aphasia.
- Talk to the person as much as possible. The more practice your loved one has, the faster he or she can recover from aphasia.
There are also support groups available for family members of people with aphasia. Don't hesitate to reach out and network with others who live with people affected by this condition.
Participating in trials and new research projects in the field of aphasia may be another option if current treatments are not working. This can also be a good option if your loved one does not recover as quickly as you had hoped. Ask your doctor about new treatments or clinical trials that your loved one can participate in.
Aphasia Treatment at Lompoc Valley Medical Center
At Lompoc Valley Medical Center, we understand how recovering from aphasia is critical to your overall well-being. We want to help you manage your condition and improve your communication skills.Contact ustoday at(805) 737-3382to request an appointment and learn more about our many health services.
