Aphasia is a disorder in which damage to the brain leads to difficulty with language. It might be an inability to access vocabulary or a lack of grammatical skills. Sometimes the person can understand what others say, while in other instances normal language can seem like nonsense. While speech language pathologists are skilled at helping to treat these kinds of disorders, not everyone recovers. Here’s a look at how to live with aphasia.
Facts about Aphasia
The most common cause of aphasia is a stroke; almost half of those who survive having a stroke wind up with some form of aphasia. Sources differ, but about 1-2 million Americans suffer from aphasia, with almost 200,000 new cases each year. Some forms of aphasia are temporary, brought on by seizures or migraines. Others can take a few months to return to normal. Some forms are not only permanent but grow progressively worse.
The Beginning of Aphasia
When aphasia is caused by traumatic brain injury or stroke, there is usually no warning. A fast diagnosis is one of the most important aspects of discovering you have aphasia, as it means you can begin treatment quickly. Speech therapy is currently the only solid, effective means of treatment. If significant progress isn’t made within the first two to three months, it is unlikely the patient will recover. However, some people continue to slowly regain their powers of communication.
How to Cope
When it isn’t possible to regain complete control of your vocabulary or sentence production, the goal of living with aphasia is to learn ways to work around your disability. You may have to come to terms with the fact that you may never return to work or school, and may have difficulty interacting with people for the rest of your life. Having a strong support network is extremely important in dealing with aphasia. Many experts recommend finding a support group, where you can not only find a group of people who understand what you’re going through, but are also provided with a safe place to use the communication skills you do possess. Again, although you may not completely recover, don’t give up -- you may find that as years go by, you slowly begin to develop more and more of the speech capabilities you used to have.
Equally important is having your family and loved ones understand what’s happening to you. There are many resources that help others learn how to communicate with someone with aphasia. Make sure those close to you are active in your treatment and recovery. Having a disability like aphasia can lead to significant feelings of isolation, which can in turn cause serious depression. Relying on your family and friends can ease the burden of infirmity.
Managing the Public
While you might not be able to read signs or tell the taxi driver where you want to go, there are a few things you can do to make it easier to be out alone. The Mayo Clinic recommends having cards made that explain that you have aphasia and may have difficulty understanding or responding to questions. Make sure to always carry your identification and a way to reach your family or friends in case of an emergency. As you learn ways to work around your shortcomings, you may be able to draw pictures or use gestures to get your point -- or at least what you need -- across. One of the most important things you can do -- at home or in public -- is to continue trying to communicate, in any manner, rather than giving up and abandoning any attempts at reaching out.
