How Speech Therapy Helps Adults Recover from Aphasia After a Stroke

Aphasia is a language disorder that affects a person’s ability to communicate. It can result from either a stroke or a brain injury; however, a stroke to the left side of the brain is typically the cause. The left brain handles the various aspects of speech and language. The effect that aphasia has on an individual is dependent on the area that was damaged by the stroke or brain injury. 

Aphasia symptoms can affect people in different ways. They may range from mild to severe. Someone with aphasia may

• Struggle to find the right words
• Speak in short or incomplete sentences
• Speak words and sentences that do not make sense
• Struggle with reading and writing
• Have difficulty following a conversation

The National Aphasia Association states that the disorder is more common in older individuals and affects about one in every 250 people. Approximately one million people are currently living with aphasia in the United States, and about 80,000 additional adults become aphasic each year. The risk of aphasia increases significantly with age. 

Types of Aphasia

There are multiple classifications of aphasia.

• Anomic Aphasia
• Broca’s Aphasia
• Conduction Aphasia
• Global Aphasia
• Mixed Transcortical Aphasia
• Primary Progressive Aphasia
• Transcortical Motor Aphasia
• Transcortical Sensory Aphasia
• Wernicke’s Aphasia

The classifications of aphasia that are the result of a stroke are typically Broca’s Aphasia, Global Aphasia, and Wernicke’s Aphasia.

Broca’s Aphasia

• Damage to the frontal lobe of the brain is the cause of Broca’s Aphasia. Someone with Broca’s Aphasia may omit words as they speak and speak in short phrases.

Global Aphasia

• Global Aphasia is caused by significant damage to both the front and back portions of the left side of the brain. A person with this type of aphasia may have great impairment in forming and understanding words and sentences.

Wernicke’s Aphasia

• The most common cause of Wernicke’s Aphasia is an ischemic stroke that affects the posterior temporal lobe of the dominant hemisphere of the brain. Although an individual with this type of aphasia may have no difficulties with speaking, what they say may be jumbled and make little (to no) sense.

Diagnosing Aphasia After a Stroke

Stroke is the most common cause of aphasia. An estimated 20 to 40 percent of stroke patients are believed to develop aphasia. Aphasia doesn't affect intelligence, and stroke survivors remain mentally alert, even though their speech may be jumbled and hard to understand.

Diagnosing aphasia typically involves a combination of healthcare provider observation, patient history, and speech and language assessments. In some cases, medical imaging such as an MRI or CT scan is used to identify the location and severity of the brain damage contributing to the condition. Knowing the location and severity is beneficial when deciding on a treatment plan. 

How to Improve Aphasia After a Stroke

While not everyone affected by aphasia will require treatment, many do require speech therapy. During speech therapy, the focus is typically on relearning and practicing language skills. Great Speech offers online speech therapy which is incredibly convenient for treatment as the individual can be comfortable in their own environment.

A speech therapist may assist with learning alternate ways to communicate. This can be accomplished by using pictures, electronics, and hand gestures. With advances in technology, electronic devices can also be programmed with speech-generating applications. 

Speech therapy techniques such as working on speech sounds and repetitive speech exercises may be used to improve aphasia. Singing is also often used during treatment. Surprisingly so, some people who are having communication struggles can sing a song with minimal difficulty or mistakes. In some cases, group speech therapy is also recommended to help practice and improve conversational skills. 

Caregivers and family members may feel frustrated that they can no longer effectively communicate with their loved ones. Because of this, it’s common for family members to also participate in the speech therapy process. This will help them support their loved ones in their treatment journeys while also learning the best ways to communicate with them. It is important to remember that the individual who faced the stroke is still the same person despite the new challenge of aphasia. It is invaluable to show patience by allowing ample time for them to respond. Speech therapy will be most beneficial in a quiet and positive environment.

Is there a cure for stroke-related aphasia?

Studies have shown that stroke-related aphasia improves most in the first three months after a stroke. Someone with a mild to moderate case of aphasia is more likely to notice the greatest improvement. Recovery depends on the area of the brain affected, the severity of the stroke, and how quickly rehabilitation begins.

Receiving the appropriate poststroke rehabilitation can help an individual regain some or most of their skills, including effective communication. Speech therapy is the main method of improving symptoms related to aphasia. 

Suffering from a stroke comes with many challenges. Communication struggles add to the frustration and can even make an individual angry. Struggling to communicate wants and needs may lead to feelings of being isolated, which can lead to depression. 

At Great Speech, we are experts in virtual speech therapy for all ages! If you or a loved one are struggling with Aphasia or other speech troubles, schedule your introductory call today.