An Overview of an Aphasia Diagnosis
If your loved one recently received an aphasia diagnosis, you may be wondering about both the medical side of things and how to best support them. With the right support from family members and caregivers, aphasia patients can maintain an independent lifestyle and, in some cases, recover their lost communication abilities. If your loved one has aphasia, there are many ways you can support them at home, including getting them proper in-home care.
What is Aphasia?
This relatively rare disease was recently brought into light with the news that actor Bruce Willis stepped down from his career after an aphasia diagnosis. Aphasia affects a person’s ability to communicate through speaking or writing.
It happens due to damage in two or more areas of the brain that deal with language. The most common cause is a stroke, which blocks blood flow to the brain. Other causes include a head injury, brain tumor, infection, or a degenerative disease like Alzheimer’s or dementia. If the aphasia is caused by a stroke, symptoms may happen suddenly. In the case of a degenerative disease, symptoms may worsen gradually.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Aphasia?
Symptoms may look like:
- Not understanding other people
- Unable to express oneself
- Short or incomplete sentences
- Sentences that don’t make sense
According to the National Institutes of Health, aphasia has two main categories: fluent and nonfluent.
The most common type of fluent aphasia is Wernicke’s aphasia. A person with this type may speak in long, complete sentences with no meaning. They might add unnecessary or made-up words and have difficulty understanding speech.
The most common type of nonfluent aphasia is Broca’s aphasia, which primarily affects the brain’s frontal lobe. Someone with Broca’s aphasia may speak in short phrases and leave out words such as “is,” “and,” or “the.” They may experience paralysis or weakness in the arm or leg on the right side.
Treatment for Aphasia
If you suspect your loved one has aphasia, have them see a medical professional for an official diagnosis. Speech language therapy will help your loved one to regain their abilities and learn alternate methods of communication using their remaining abilities. Social activities like book clubs help aphasia patients improve their communication skills and regain their confidence.
How Can I Support a Loved One with Aphasia?
After an aphasia diagnosis, it is important to provide your loved one support and get them proper care. There are many ways you can help someone with aphasia. You can:
- Simplify your language
- Repeat words or write them down
- Maintain a natural conversational manner
- Minimize distractions
- Include them in conversations
- Ask them for their opinions
- Encourage any type of communication
- Avoid correcting their speech
- Give them plenty of time to talk
- Find ways to involve them in activities outside the home
Getting In Home Care for Your Loved One with Aphasia
It is hard to support a loved one with aphasia while balancing other obligations. If your loved one has an illness such as dementia, or if their aphasia limits their physical movements, they may require more extensive medical care or assistance with ADLs (Activities of Daily Living). In this case, you can get them in-home care. In-home care lets your loved one stay in a safe, familiar environment. The in-home care provider can take your loved one to speech therapy appointments, assist them with daily activities like showering, and take them to social activities outside of the home.
Located in Alpharetta, Trinity Life at Home provides in-home care services all around metro Atlanta. Our experienced, compassionate caregivers provide your loved ones with professional care in the comfort of their own home.
We offer the following services:
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- Daily Living Assistance
- In-Home Memory Care
- Private Duty Skilled Nursing
- Post-Op Recovery Care
- And More
