Question: My grandmother had a stroke and is having trouble speaking. She also seems to have difficulty understanding what I
say. What could cause this?
Answer: Following a stroke, some patients experience difficulty with language. This is often caused by a condition known as Aphasia. Aphasia is a disorder that impacts a person’s ability to understand and express language. Individuals may have difficulty speaking, listening, reading, or writing. Aphasia can impact one or any combination of these functions. A speech therapist can help by providing structured activities to stimulate neural regeneration of damaged language centers in the brain as well as training patients and families in compensatory communication techniques. Today there are many computer based programs that can augment an individual’s ability to speak, write, and understand language. A speech therapist works with patients and their families to find the right fit. Please contact Elizabeth Subasic, M.S. CCC-SLP at STARS at 367-8989 for more information.
