A common symptom of a stoke survivor is aphasia. Aphasia can affect a person’s ability to speak and to comprehend what others are saying. It can be emotionally difficult for both the stroke survivor and the caregiver to communicate. Below are eight tips on how to communicate:
- Be a companion — not a therapist.
- Set the stage for communication — good lighting, relaxed atmosphere, low or no noise distractions, like TV.
- Speak at a normal rate with pauses at phrase and sentence endings. Avoid the tendency to use talk down or use “baby talk.”
- Don’t talk louder, just more slowly.
- Aid comprehension by writing down key words.
- Provide choices to get going in the right category.
- Be willing to accept ANY form of communication as equally valid: gestures, writing, and drawing, using a communication notebook, intonation or speech.
- Make sure you sit down at least once a day and have a pleasant conversation with your spouse or aging relative. After dinner is a nice time to talk.
