Caring for a Loved One With Aphasia
Right at Home-Alabama
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Jun 12, 2024
Alabama - Gulf Coast
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Caring for a Loved One With Aphasia
Our
ability to communicate with others is something most of us take for granted on
a daily basis. From small interactions, like asking someone to pass the salt,
to more extensive conversations about complicated feelings, the ability to
verbally communicate our wants and needs is a large part of the human
experience.
Aphasia,
however, occurs when someone loses their ability to communicate due to damage
to the part of the brain that impacts language.
What Is Aphasia?
Aphasia
can result from a trauma to the brain, such as a stroke, head injury, tumor, or
even an infection. It impacts all modes of language including speech, writing,
gesticulating and comprehension. Aphasia impacts roughly 2 million people in the
United States, and an estimated 180,000 cases are diagnosed each year. Strokes
are the most common cause of aphasia, and as a result, older people are the
most affected by aphasia.
If you
are caring for a loved one with aphasia, you may feel frustrated and
overwhelmed at times. This may be especially true during the early stages of a
diagnosis, but tapping into the tips listed below can help guide you through
this new reality with patience and grace.
Expand Your Toolbox
By
learning more about aphasia and the limitations your loved one is experiencing,
you can begin to alter your behavior and expectations. Once you have a better
understanding of the brain and how aphasia impacts communication skills, you
can learn some new techniques and strategies for how to communicate with your
loved one, including facilitative conversations. For example, according
to APTUS Speech Therapy, “the temptation to
fill all the silences, and to ask a question when they already know the answer
(a test question)” can serve as a barrier to communication instead of a
facilitator. Instead, the company recommends “leaving space to talk, prompting
writing or gesture, and offering comments instead of test questions.”
Limit Distractions
If you
or your loved one are used to having background noise on in the home, such as
television or radio, turning it off in order to reduce distractions while
trying to communicate can also help improve the experience for both of you.
Providing your loved one with your undivided attention is an ideal way to try
to connect with them—this is a good piece of advice both when loved ones are
able to communicate clearly and when they are struggling with language after an
aphasia diagnosis.
Take Advantage of Nonverbal Communication
Lingraphica,
a technology company that creates devices to help improve speech impairments
after a stroke or brain injury, encourages caregivers to
use a pen and paper or dry erase board to help bolster
communication with loved ones. It’s not uncommon for someone living with
aphasia to know the first letter of the word they want to use, so having
something nearby that they can write on provides a jumping-off point for them
to communicate their thoughts. The benefit, as the company describes it, is
that “as you draw and write, you can end up with a complete ‘story’ at the end
of the conversation.”
Practice Self-Care
No
matter your loved one’s condition, as their caregiver, it’s important to
replenish your own energy throughout your caregiving journey. The best way to
do this is to make time for yourself. Whether that means you make time every
day to listen to your favorite podcast or audiobook, exercise, talk with a
friend, meditate, or simply take a bubble bath, doing something kind for
yourself isn’t selfish—it’s a necessity.
Bring in a Professional
There
are a variety of resources you can tap into when you are feeling overwhelmed
about caring for your loved one with aphasia. From bringing in a professional
speech language pathologist to work with you and your loved one on tools and
techniques for improved communication, to hiring a professional
caregiver to provide you with some respite from your
caregiving duties, knowing that you are not alone on this journey can make all
the difference.
Hillary Young is a writer dedicated to helping older Americans live healthier, more fulfilling lives. She currently blogs for HuffPost50 and Medical Guardian. You can find her on Twitter as @hyoungcreative.
For home care assistance, call Right at Home located in Daphne and Mobile, Alabama.
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