Sometimes, after a stroke, a person loses the ability to speak or understand speech. This is called aphasia.
Here are the rules that will help to deal with these people:
- Before talking limit the background noise, turn off the TV, go to a quiet room;
- Before you speak, make sure that people pay attention to you;
- Look in the eyes;
- Talk to people who have aphasia as adults. Do not let them feel that they are treated like children. Never pretend to understand them if you do not understand;
- If a person with aphasia do not understand you, do not scream. It's not about volume;
- Encourage any attempt to speak;
- Ignore the errors in words;
- Do not demand a clear pronunciation of words.
If you ask the question:
- Ask these questions that you can answer "Yes" or "not";
- If possible, let's clear choice answers. But let us not too many options;
- Sometimes help some visual cues.
When you are giving instructions:
- Break instructions into short simple steps;
- Give the person time to understand. Sometimes it takes longer than you expect;
- If a person with aphasia begins to grieve and worry, then take his time with something else;
Encourage other communication options:
- Let him try to point the finger;
- draw;
- It uses gestures.
It is useful to have a book with some general pictures or words that are often used in conversation. These words or pictures can point the finger.
Always try to involve the person with aphasia in the conversation. Check to see if he understands, but do not push too hard.
Or correct a person with aphasia, if it is not entirely accurate recalls and reproduces some events.
Encourage the person with aphasia to be independent, often out of the house and socialize with different people in different situations.
If you leave a person with aphasia, then prepare a note that specifies how to contact members of his family, as well as simple instructions on how other people communicate better with them.
