Aphasia advice

General
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Ok so it’s been 10 weeks since my moms aneurysm/stroke, and it although some days are better than others, it seems like she completely understands what I’m saying. She nods yes and no, and even acknowledges and nods when I’m talking in a conversation not directly to her. The speech therapist said she has a form of aphasia, and that it may go away or may not. She said this is why she is having trouble following commands… I have researched aphasia, not sure what type she has. One day she came right out and asked where am I? But them another day she will mumble and I can’t make it out. One day she even dropped the f bomb…

Have any of you guys experienced this? Did it just get better with time and rest? What can I do everyday to help her get her words out? It seems like sometimes she is clear as a bell and other times I can only make out one or two words. Speech therapy will only come work with her 30 min a day, and I want to get moving to help her along! I’m working on her mobility mostly when I’m there trying to get her moving. Thank you all for your wisdom and advice.

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So sorry..I experienced this for a few days after my coiling. So very frustrating and frightening! It did improve with time and patience. Sending prayers to u all.

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Ah...I so wish I could help...but I know that this is a long journey...and mom had aneurysm and stroke...10 weeks is so early in the healing...she needs lots of rest and therapy...which she seems to be getting...ask speech therapy what you can help mom do when she/he is no longer there to teach...

Now the recipe...lots of love and patience...~ Colleen

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hi chris! yes it does get better, hang in there. I'm 4 yrs post SAH and early on I was horrible then one day I figured it out- I was trying to impress the therapists by using big words way beyond my vocabulary,immediately I was better as I kept it simple and now i'm 100% almost, you both will need lots of patience, love and understanding. its a good sign she is clear as a bell at times I think- these clear spells will increase imo~~~

5

Chris...

So highly interested in knowing the neuro status of a speech therapist to make these diagnostics / other form of opinion????

Suggest you research aphasias...from global to expressive, receptive, anomia and more... The type can vary by where treatment is practiced...yes, pretty scary...There are various parts of the brain that relate to the various terminology..i.e. Broca's and Wernicke's (sort of opposite sides of brain) ... and, if I remember the anomia is somehow related to a part of the temporal lobe...

On a personal level...as you talk with your mom, suggest you talk slowly, possibly increase sound...and. when she answers...ask, if she means "a quote back" from you...Talking slowly is critical....

When you know, or sense, she is bringing forth a wrong word(s) help walk her back thru it....

What has the speech therapist...or neurologist or whatever...explained to you that may help your mom's recovery?

Also...has your mother's hearing been tested? Were any oximetry (general term for a non-invasive inner ear monitoring) while hospitalized? ...Well, just in case no doc shared this type of info with you...you may want to ask....

Is your mother at home (HHC) with speech therapy, in a rehab facility, or yet in the hospital? If she is at HHC or rehab facility, secure the transfer records....

The records provided to my HHC for a speech therapist noted hearing loss...and, none of my maintained med records do...nor was family told on DC... Conversely...the HHC specialist noted that I had no vision loss...yet, some med records note "call in oph for pt safety"...which was never done...before discharge... or after discharge... until my family insisted on it...tho no referral to neuro-oph...

Worse on the HHC/hospital transfer records...where she notes no vision loss...she also notes about hemianopsia... a major vision issue...

In other words, I suggest you ask a zillion questions...of course, ask those specialists... what has been diagnosed, what has been tested...etc...

I still stumble over words...I did have the global and the anomia...and, some docs elected to call it expressive and receptive aphasias...

Forgive if I have overloaded...

Hugs and prayers for your mother's recovery...

Pat

6

Hi Pat! Ok I researched aphasia throughly, and I truly believe my mom has expressive aphasia. I talked to the doctors/therapists today and they agreed, they said expressive, AND receptive. However for the last two days, I can’t make anything out she is saying, but she is really trying hard to talk to me. (Other than her responding hi, ok, or yeah) She will try a couple times, then turn and watch tv if I don’t understand? I am patient, I tell her to try again when she is ready. She whispers, so I’m not sure if she is speaking full words, or maybe I just can’t hear her.

My mom is at a long term acute care hospital but they are talking of removing the trache, (it’s been capped now for 9 days) and transferring her to a sub acute care facility, which I guess is good step? But she still has a feeding tube because they are scared to try and do a swallow test because she isn’t following demands 90% of the time. I want them to try but the speech therapist doesn’t feel comfortable… I don’t know, but I feel she can do it.

She is slowly moving her arms, her left side is better than her right. No movement yet in her legs (which scares me) but they tell me it’s not muscle weakness it’s a neuron something or other not firing in her brain? Her aneurysm was on the front right hand side, but the stroke that followed was on her left. (Which doctors say she may have paralysis on her right side of her body)

I forgot to ask about her hearing and eye site… Information overload this week! Oh yes and another thing, I told my mom slowly, “I know you understand me, you know what you want to say but just can’t get out the words”, and her eyes got big and she said YES and nodded! She always takes a real deep breath before attempting to talk, then it’s like the words just escaped her all of a sudden.

I wanted to thank you guys again for all your encouragement, concern and support! I can’t tell everyone enough how uplifting it is to log on here and read about all the miracles and recoveries of survivors! I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow!

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Chris...Happy Thanksgiving Day and Every Day...I will write more later...

Hugs and Prayers for continued recovery of your mother...and, everything else that is good in our lives...

Pat