Speech Therapy Exercises To Support Stroke Recovery At Home
Recovering from a stroke can be a long process, and communication challenges or Aphasia are one of the biggest issues that stroke survivors have. Some of those affected by a stroke may know exactly what they want to say but have trouble finding the right words to say it, and others may struggle to speak clearly. Many times, speech for stroke survivors may also become slower, quieter, or harder to understand.
The good news is that speech and language skills can improve a lot after a stroke, and working with a speech-language pathologist (SLP) is an important part of that process. Engaging with an SLP after a stroke can help rebuild muscle function and clearly organize thoughts through speech therapy exercises, helping stroke survivors regain their independence and connection with others. If you or your loved one is struggling with communication after a stroke, schedule an introductory call today to create a plan for recovery.
Therapy appointments, however, may only happen a few times a week, so what happens on the days in between? There are a variety of simple speech and language activities that can be easily practiced outside of therapy sessions, and these activities are meant to reinforce the skills learned in therapy, not replace the need for therapy altogether.
1. Practicing Naming Familiar Objects
Pick practical objects around the house like a spoon, phone, shirt, book, or cup and ask the stroke survivor to name each item. If the word does not come to them right away, avoid rushing to give them the answer. Instead, give them time to think. You can offer a helpful clue, such as what the object is used for, or the first sound of the word.
For example, if the person cannot say “telephone”, you can help them by saying “You use it to call someone”.
Difficulties finding the right words can be common with aphasia after a stroke, and using strategies such as describing the object, thinking about its characteristics, or giving the first letter can help the stroke survivor retrieve the word.
2. Read Short Passages Out Loud
Reading aloud can be another great way to practice communication skills, and we recommend starting with something familiar and manageable like a few sentences from a newspaper, a favorite book, a recipe, or a short note.
The goal isn't to get through an entire page. Focus on saying the words as clearly and comfortably as possible. If reading aloud is difficult, your SLP can recommend an appropriate level of material and determine whether reading practice is appropriate for the individual's specific communication needs. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) recommends these reading aloud techniques especially for those who have aphasia.
3. Practical Useful Phrases
Try phrases that actually matter in everyday life and not just random words. For example, “I would like some water.”, “Can you help me?”, “Good morning.”. Functional communication is the goal, and your SLP can help identify phrases that mean something for your specific situation.
4. Have Short, Focused Conversations
Practicing conversations can help bring skills learned in therapy into everyday situations. Pick a topic that is familiar, such as a television show, a pet, a recent meal, or something else that happened during the day, and ensure that you are in a quiet area. Give the person plenty of time to respond, and resist the temptation to finish every sentence for them. If a word is hard for them to find, encourage other ways of communicating like pointing, gesturing, writing, drawing, or describing the word.
5. Use Writing or Pictures as Communication Supports
Speech isn't the only way to communicate. A notebook, picture cards, or a communication app can all make it easier for someone to express their wants and needs while their speech skills are still recovering. These tools are known as augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and can all be especially helpful when a person becomes frustrated because they know what they want to say but cannot produce the words. Great Speech also provides virtual support for a variety of electronic AAC devices, including Lingraphica, Tobii Dynavox, PRC-Saltillo, Forbes AAC, and many others.
6. Practice in Short Sessions
Recovering from a stroke can be tiring, and working on communication skills takes a lot of mental effort. Because of this, more isn't necessarily better. Try short periods of practice throughout the day instead of long ones and stop if the person becomes unusually fatigued, frustrated, or overwhelmed.
Why Does a Stroke Affect Speech?
A stroke occurs when the blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted or when a blood vessel in the brain bleeds. When areas that are involved in communication are damaged, speech and language abilities can change as well.
One common condition after a stroke is aphasia. Aphasia can affect speaking, understanding, reading, and writing. A stroke can also cause dysarthria, which affects the muscles and coordination needed for speech. A person with dysarthria may have difficulty with pronunciation, volume, speaking rate, or natural intonation. Another condition, apraxia of speech, can make it difficult to plan and coordinate the movements that are needed to produce speech.
Because all of these conditions can look different from one person to another, there isn't one universal set of speech exercises that works for every stroke survivor.
Why is Speech Therapy Important After a Stroke
SLP’s can evaluate how a stroke has affected communication and determine whether someone is experiencing aphasia, dysarthria, apraxia of speech, cognitive-communication difficulties, or a combination of problems. From there, the SLP develops a personalized treatment plan that is based on the person’s abilities, goals, and everyday needs.
SLP’s can also work with family members and caregivers so that everyone knows how to communicate more effectively, and treatment may focus on restoring language skills, improving speech clarity, developing communication strategies, or using AAC when needed.
If you or your loved one is struggling with communication after a stroke, schedule a call to discuss what type of support may be best.
What is the Long-Term Outlook?
Stroke recovery looks different for everyone. The extent and location of the injury, the type of communication disorder, the patient's overall health, and many other factors can all influence recovery.
A lot of improvement can occur during the first several months after a stroke, but recovery does not necessarily stop there, and communication abilities can continue to improve for months after a stroke. That is one reason why continued practice and professional support matter. Progress may be gradual, and the goal isn't always to return speech to exactly how it was before the stroke. Sometimes the focus is on finding new and effective ways to communicate and participate in everyday life.
At Great Speech, we understand that getting to an office isn't always easy, especially while recovering from a stroke. Virtual speech therapy can provide access to professional support from home, while therapist-directed activities can help reinforce those skills learned in sessions between appointments.
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Are you wondering about insurance coverage? Our speech therapy services are covered by most major insurance providers nationwide, with plans accepted from Cigna, Centivo, Wellcare, AllWell, Ambetter Health, Humana Military, Health Net, Zenith America, Optum, Aetna & more! Check out our insurance page to find out if you’re covered.