Aphasia, a condition that may occur after an individual has experienced a stroke, is marked by difficult or absent speech and problems with understanding and processing language. It is a source of frustration for many seniors and their families because it can create a significant barrier to communication. Fortunately, various treatment options are available. Here are a few common treatments designed to target the specific problems associated with aphasia.
Speech Therapy
The most common forms of treatment for restoring communication skills in people with aphasia are provided by professional speech therapists. They use a variety of techniques designed to reconnect the stoke-damaged areas of the brain to their respective speech- or cognitive-related functions. One common technique includes working the muscles of the mouth with different exercises to help seniors properly form words again.
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Alternate Techniques
A variety of other therapy methods have proven successful in reawakening speech and communication-processing skills. Constraint-induced communication treatments involve techniques that force the stroke survivor into communicating with only a verbal response. Here, using body language and other forms of relating aren’t allowed. Melodic intonation is another option that helps some seniors recover speech skills through responding by singing rather than talking. Other therapies include:
- Art therapy
- Associating pictures with words
- Prescription medications
- Group therapy
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Home Treatment
When seniors who have aphasia are undergoing professional care, their therapists will provide them with activities to perform at home in an effort to enhance their course of treatment. Some examples of home exercises that family members and caregivers can perform with their loved ones include:
- Doing word search puzzles
- Reading aloud and singing
- Playing word-based board games
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