Advice after your nerve block for surgery
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What is Aphasia?
Aphasia (or dysphasia) is the name given to a disorder that affects parts of the brain that contain language.
There may be difficulties with any or all of the following:
• speaking, listening, reading and writing
Intelligence, personality, and hearing are not affected.
The severity and impact of aphasia varies from person to person. The following are some examples of how it can affect communication:
• difficulties with finding the words for things
• using nonsense words
• difficulties forming full sentences
• problems understanding simple/ complex sentences
• no understanding of words and inability to use words to express anything meaningful.
Individuals with aphasia may also experience other disorders such as apraxia of speech (difficulty coordinating speech sounds) and dysarthria (weakness of muscles of the mouth, face and respiratory system resulting in unclear speech).
How can it happen?
Aphasia can occur as a result of a stroke, head injury, brain tumour or other neurological condition.
How can speech and language therapy help?
Speech and language therapists are highly trained professionals who specialise in assessing aphasia. Advice and/or therapy is then offered to maximise communication potential. Therapists work closely with the individual, the family, and carers to develop strategies to help.
Strategies to help someone with difficulty understanding
• Make sure background noise (e.g. television) is at a minimum.
• Ensure the individual’s attention is gained before you start to speak.
• Allow extra time for understanding.
• Give one piece of information at a time.
• Check frequently that the individual has understood you.
• Use gesture or pointing to objects alongside your speech to support their understanding.
Strategies to help someone with difficulty expressing themselves
- Give extra time for the individual to respond and provide reassurance.
- It may help to ask questions which require a yes/no response only.
- Encourage any means of communication available, such as facial expression, gesture, head nod or shake, etc.
- Compile pictures, photographs and some words of everyday objects or close friends and family members which the person can point to, to express needs or wishes.
- Try not to interrupt or fill in too soon - it can be very frustrating.
- When they are tired or anxious, their speech will often sound worse – try to hold important conversations when they have had a rest.
Contact us
If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the Speech and language therapy service.
About this information
Service:
Speech and language therapy
Reference:
VV/009
Approval date:
20 September 2024
Review date:
1 May 2027
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Important note
This page provides general information only. It is developed by clinical staff and is reviewed regularly every 3 years for accuracy. For personal advice about your health, or if you have any concerns, please speak to your doctor.