Services for
Adults and Seniors

If your loved one has had a stroke, you may already have heard the term “aphasia” mentioned. Aphasia is a communication disorder in which patients have trouble finding the right word for their thoughts, or their speech is halting or unclear. Speech therapy works to help patients concentrate in order to find the right word, as well as respond to verbal and vocal cues. The goal of the therapy is to have the patient reach the maximum possible functioning, although this may not be the same level that they enjoyed before their stroke. Six months to a year is the general timeframe for seeing improvement with aphasia, if improvement is to be had.

Another side effect of strokes is the condition known as “apraxia.” Symptoms include using words out of order or even having trouble moving their lips correctly to form the words. Treatment can involve asking the patient to repeat certain sounds, and then try to make these sounds into words. In addition, the patient may have to speak more slowly, at least at first, in order to make the words, or say them in the correct order.

Another issue that older adults are prone to dealing with is dementia, a condition that most people don’t realize can benefit from speech therapy. In these cases, therapists help patients retain their communication abilities for as long as possible. Therapists can also help the friends, family, and caregivers of the patient communicate better with them. Techniques involve teaching loved ones to rely more on visual cues, simple words, familiar sounds, and the like.

Finally, dysarthria is a motor speech disorder with five different types. It is commonly seen in those with diseases that affect the nervous system, such as Parkinson’s, because of weakness or paralysis that are typical of the condition. Symptoms include a slow rate of speech, or speech that sounds mumbled, slurred, or hard to understand. In these cases, a speech therapist will often monitor the patient’s muscle and breathing patterns, as well as have them repeat certain sounds. In this way, they learn the best method for helping the patient. Treatment techniques often involve having the patient work on tongue and lip movement, breathing technique, and speaking more slowly to have time to form words.