How Speech Therapy Helps You Regain Communication Skills After A Stroke

About two of every three stroke survivors experience communication issues. Suddenly, the right word is just out of reach, directions make no sense and even simple conversations can become frustrating.

The good news is that early speech therapy can help immensely, according to Darcy Hughes, a licensed speech-language pathologist with Franciscan Health Indianapolis, who has worked with stroke survivors for more than 15 years. She added that almost everyone begins to regain communication skills in the weeks and months after a stroke.

Key Takeaways: Stroke, Speaking And Communication

• A stroke can impact your ability to speak, understand, read and write. Early intervention with speech therapy can help you regain communication skills.
• Recovery varies depending on several factors, including the location and severity of the stroke. Most patients see early progress in the first weeks to months and may continue to improve after the one-year mark.
• Personalized therapy exercises, a positive mindset and family support all play a role.

How Can A Stroke Affect Communication?

A stroke is a medical emergency that interrupts blood flow to the brain. There are two main types: 

• Ischemic strokes — An ischemic stroke is caused by a blockage in a blood vessel that keeps oxygen from reaching the brain.
• Hemorrhagic strokes — A hemorrhagic stroke, sometimes called a massive stroke, happens when a blood vessel bursts, causing bleeding and pressure on brain tissue.

Strokes that injure the left side of the brain can lead to problems with speaking, reading and writing. That’s because the left side often controls language function. However, damage on either side of the brain can affect communication depending on the muscles involved.

What Are The Most Common Communication Challenges After A Stroke?

After a stroke, you may face one or more types of communication challenges, such as:

Aphasia

Aphasia is when it’s difficult to talk, read, write or understand other people when they speak. It’s common for people with aphasia to feel that “it’s on the tip of my tongue” when they can’t think of a word.

Apraxia

Apraxia happens when it’s difficult to coordinate the muscles for speech. Your brain knows what the word is but doesn’t “deliver” the right word to the muscles that control speech. For example, your brain may recognize a dog in a photo but call it a cat.

Dysarthria

With dysarthria, you can have weakness or paralysis in the muscles used to speak, including your tongue. Your speech may become slurred and difficult for others to understand.

Dysphonia

With this weakness or paralysis in the muscles in and around the vocal cords, your voice might sound like a whisper, or it might sound hoarse or rough.

How Does Speech Therapy Help Restore Communication?

Speech therapy helps retrain the areas affected by a stroke. We may suggest exercises in which you practice single words, phrases or sentences, as well as functional tasks like naming items, finishing phrases or playing word games. You can help stimulate language pathways when you sing, count and play Sudoku or word-finding games.

“The first speech therapy appointment can happen within a day or two of the stroke, and it includes a thorough evaluation to identify the person’s strengths and weaknesses,” Hughes said. “We ask patients to complete written and verbal tests, and we assess the muscles that they use to speak. We use this information to create a personalized plan to help you regain speech and communicate more easily.”

What Are The Emotional Challenges Of Dealing With Communication Issues After A Stroke?

Hughes said one of the most challenging aspects of stroke recovery is the inability to communicate basic needs.

“I think we all take our ability to communicate for granted,” she explained. “It's so easy for most of us to ask for a glass of water or say, ‘I need to use the restroom.’ When someone can’t express themselves in those basic ways, it can cause a lot of frustration.”

What concerns Hughes most is when patients withdraw from others, whether during speech therapy sessions or in everyday interactions.

“I tell my patients, ‘Whatever you do, please don’t get quiet on me,’” she said. “The best ways to regain what you’ve lost are to practice communication skills and do your exercises.”

How Can Family Members And Friends Help?

Loved ones can help stroke survivors with patience and active listening skills, including:

• Make sure to speak face-to-face. Verbal cues and gestures help people better understand the conversation.
• Keep conversations distraction-free.
• Use short and simple sentences and speak slowly.
• Don’t speak for the person — allow them to finish what they want to say.

What To Expect From Your Recovery

Everyone recovers from a stroke differently. Your recovery depends on several factors — some of which you can control and others you cannot. These factors include:

• How severe your stroke was
• Where the blockage or bleed occurred in your brain
• Your mindset and ability to participate in therapy
• The support you receive from family members and friends

While each patient progresses at their own pace, most see early improvements in the first weeks to months. Additional gains can continue over a year or more after the stroke.

Learn More About Our Speech Therapy Services For Stroke Survivors

If you or a loved one is struggling with communication after a stroke, schedule an appointment with a licensed speech-language pathologist at Franciscan Health. To learn more or request an appointment, visit our program page.