Understanding Aphasia and Other Communication Problems After a Stroke in Australia. In almost simple language

As my previous supervisor would say strokes are a big deal in Australia, often leaving folks with communication issues. Besides aphasia, which you might’ve heard of, there are other problems that can occur after a stroke. These include things like apraxia of speech, dysarthria, cognitive communication disorders, mental fatigue, neurogenic voice disorders, and fluency disorders.

What is Aphasia?

Aphasia is a condition where someone has trouble talking, understanding, reading, or writing because of damage to the brain from a stroke (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association).

There are a few different types:

• Broca’s Aphasia: Struggles with speaking clearly, but understanding is usually alright.

• Wernicke’s Aphasia: Speech sounds normal but doesn’t make much sense, and understanding is off.

• Global Aphasia: Both speaking and understanding are severely impacted.

Other Communication Issues After a Stroke

Cognitive Communication Disorders affect how people use language because of problems with memory, attention, and thinking (ASHA). Unlike aphasia, which directly affects language, these issues are about overall cognitive challenges.

• Struggling to organize and structure speech or writing.

• Trouble remembering and recalling information during chats.

• Difficulty understanding and using social language properly.

Apraxia of Speech is when the brain has trouble planning and coordinating the movements needed to speak (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NICCD). This means the person knows what they want to say but has trouble saying it clearly.

• Speech errors might vary and change each time.

• Imitating sounds or following commands can be tough.

• Mouth movements might be awkward or hesitant.

Dysarthria happens when the muscles used for talking are weak or uncoordinated due to brain damage (ASHA). This can make speech sound slow, slurred, or hard to understand.

• Speech might be slurred or slow.

• Articulating words clearly can be difficult.

• Voice quality might be off, sounding breathy or harsh.

Mental Fatigue is when someone feels extremely tired after a stroke, making it hard to concentrate, remember things, and communicate effectively (Stroke Foundation, 2023).

• Attention and concentration drop.

• Processing information becomes slower.

• Keeping conversations going can be a real struggle.

Neurogenic Voice Disorders are voice problems caused by damage to the brain or nerves that control the vocal cords. This can lead to issues like:

• Spasmodic Dysphonia: Voice has involuntary breaks and can sound strained or breathy.

• Vocal Cord Paralysis: Voice might sound breathy and pitch control can be tough.

Fluency Disorders involve issues with how smoothly someone talks, like stuttering or cluttering. These might come up after a stroke, though they’re less common (ASHA, n.d.).

• Frequent repetitions or blocks in speech.

• Disrupted rhythm of speech.

Please remember, this information is for EDUCATIONAL purposes only. Always consult your medical team (Your Local Doctor and/or Other Health Specialists) for personalised advice and treatment options.