National Aphasia Awareness Month

By Andy Niska | June 22, 2017 |

Elder Care in Spokane Valley WA: Aphasia Awareness Month

June brings us National Aphasia Awareness Month. Aphasia is the loss of the ability to understand or express speech. For most people, it is an ability that one takes for granted. The ability to speak, write and understand the spoken and written word are everyday, automatic occurrences that have become second nature. Then it happens—a stroke, an accident, a brain tumor or an infection and suddenly that ability is lost. Imagine waking up and not being able to speak. Now watch as a loved one speaks to you, but you have no idea what they are saying. It’s as if the world has started to speak in a foreign language.

Stroke.

Stroke is the most common cause of aphasia. It affects nearly 795,000 people every year, three-quarters of which are over the age of 65. Of those who survive, 25 to 40 percent will acquire aphasia which affects about 2 million Americans and is more common than Parkinson’s, cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy.

Understanding Aphasia.

There are three predominant types of aphasia. Each varies due to the area of the brain that has been affected.

Global aphasia enables a person to speak, name objects or repeat phrases.
Broca’s aphasia leaves a person knowing what they want to say but unable to get the words out.
Wernicke’s aphasia leaves a person unable to understand what is being said and unable to control what they say.

Tips for Communicating with Someone with Aphasia.

It’s important to remember that the severity of the damage and the part of the brain affected will determine if the person who is suffering from aphasia can hear you. Similar to a person in a coma, it’s easy to think that because they can’t communicate, they don’t understand. While this is true in some circumstances, it is not true in others. A good way to check for this is to ask a yes or no question and look for their response. Remember to treat your loved one as an adult, include them in conversations, and be patient with them when waiting for a response. They are probably feeling very frustrated and agitated and your calm assurance goes a long way in instilling faith in their recovery and hope for the future.

Keep their home environment as stress free as possible. Limit background noises such as the TV and make sure that only one person is talking at a time. Help your parent develop and acquire a set of communication aids. This can include a chalk board, a piece of paper with the alphabet written on it, or a white erase board.

Getting Help.

Improvement can still occur months to even years after an injury or stroke. A speech therapist will attempt to repair the damage by focusing on tasks that allow the patient to understand and speak with increasing abilities. Training can continue at home in the form of computer programs designed with those who have aphasia in mind. Other types of therapy involve helping the person compensate for their loss.

Elder Care Provider.

An elder care provider can assist with the everyday activities of living. They can provide transportation and run errands such as grocery shopping. These professionals will ensure that your loved one does what they can and encourage them to do more while maintaining a safe environment for them heal in.

If you or an aging loved one are considering elder care in Spokane Valley, WA, please contact the friendly staff at Love at Home Senior Care, today. Call (509) 204-4088

Resources

https://www.strokecenter.org/patients/about-stroke/stroke-statistics/

https://www.aphasia.org/aphasia-faqs/

https://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/LifeAfterStroke/RegainingIndependence/CommunicationChallenges/June-is-National-Aphasia-Awareness-Month_UCM_464039_SubHomePage.jsp

https://www.strokeassociation.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@hcm/documents/downloadable/ucm_309703.pdf

Author
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Andy Niska

Owner at Love In Home Senior Care

Andy has over 20+ years experience in the medical community and has a true compassion for seniors. With a degree in Health Care Administration, he developed a background in a variety of health care services that only comes from first hand experience. While working as a manager of a large clinic and as an account executive for medical suppliers. Andy has built valuable relationships with the medical community.

His role in Love In Home Senior Care is to educate people on what care choice is the best fit for the senior and their family while attempting to make this decision as stress-free as possible for everyone involved.

This decision making process should be smooth and stress free for everyone, including all family members and their loved ones. Having access to people with experience (like the team at Love In Home Senior Care) to assist you along the way can help this process. With an extensive background in health care, Andy has the experience needed to guide and direct your loved one to the choice that is the best fit.