Language Recovery After Stroke

Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) is a group of conditions that affect the blood vessels in the brain and lead to problems with blood flow. The most common and severe form of cerebrovascular disease is a stroke, which occurs when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted. Without proper blood flow, brain cells can become damaged or die, leading to potentially permanent brain injury.

Types of Cerebrovascular Disease

There are numerous types of Cerebrovascular Disease, each with their own symptoms. This article will focus on strokes in particular, including types, symptoms, and treatments.

1. Ischemic Stroke

The two types of Ischemic Stroke are thrombotic and embolic. A thrombotic stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery to the brain. An embolic stroke occurs when a blood clot forms elsewhere in the body (often the heart) and travels to the brain. In both scenarios, the blood clot blocks or narrows a blood vessel, preventing blood flow to part of the brain. This can lead to tissue death due to oxygen deprivation.

2. Hemorrhagic Stroke

A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, leading to bleeding in or around the brain. The increased pressure that this causes can damage brain tissue. 

3. Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is often called a mini-stroke. It occurs when there is a temporary blockage or reduced blood flow to the brain. The symptoms of a TIA are similar to those of a stroke, however, they resolve within minutes to hours and do not cause permanent damage. 

Speech Issues After a Stroke

Speech is a complex process that relies on many muscles and involves multiple intricate stages to work. Aphasia, dysarthria, and apraxia of speech (dyspraxia) are all speech disorders that can result from a stroke. 

Speech difficulties after a stroke may include:

• Slurred or distorted speech
• Inconsistent speech speed
• Hoarse voice
• Pitch inconsistency
• Difficulty pronouncing words
• Inconsistent speech

Can your speech go back to normal after a stroke?

Language recovery following a stroke does not have one simple solution. It is a complex and individualized process that depends on factors such as:

• Severity of the stroke: A mild stroke may only cause temporary speech difficulties while a severe stroke can lead to long-term or even permanent impairments. 
• Area of the brain affected by the stroke: The brain regions involved in language processing are mainly on the left side of the brain: the left frontal lobe (Broca’s area) and the left temporal lobe (Wernicke’s area). Recovery may be more challenging if these areas are significantly damaged. 
• The type of language struggles that they are having.
• Age: Younger brains have greater neuroplasticity (ability to reorganize and form new connections) than older brains, resulting in better recovery potential.
• Steps taken for rehabilitation: Speech therapy is essential for assisting with speech difficulties after a stroke. The earlier that speech therapy is started after a stroke, the greater its impact.
• Social support: It is very helpful to have a strong support system to encourage and support the individual with post-stroke communication problems. 

The first few months after a stroke are typically when the most improvement occurs. Some people may even have a full recovery over this timeframe. Improvement can be slower after 6 months but may still happen. Consistent speech therapy is key to improvement. If the improvement starts to plateau, learning new ways to communicate is beneficial. That may mean using a speech-generating program or device as well as communicating with pictures or text.

While not everyone’s speech will go back to normal after a stroke, significant improvements are possible. Early and consistent therapy and support are important. Even in the cases where the damage is severe and a full recovery isn't possible, with adjustments, communication can be restored to a meaningful degree. 

What does speech therapy do for stroke patients?

Speech therapy is the main treatment for communication issues after a stroke. Most language recovery occurs in the first few weeks following a stroke, however, improvements can be made with treatment for many years. 

At Great Speech, we are the experts in virtual speech therapy. A speech therapist will develop an individualized plan to fit each person's specific needs. 

Speech exercises for stroke patients may include:

• Articulation Exercises to improve clarity (lip and tongue exercises)
• Breathing and voice exercises (deep breathing, pitch exercises)
• Humming or singing to strengthen vocal cords
• Repetition and practice of word sounds, words, phrases, and sentences
• Word-finding exercises to help with aphasia
• Practice with sentence structure
  

Working closely with a speech-language pathologist (SLP) is essential to improving speech after a stroke. At Great Speech, we aim to successfully help each individual overcome these challenges and regain as much of their previous communication skills as possible. Get started by scheduling your free introductory call today!