Stroke and Memory Loss?

Question

My dad had a stroke a couple days ago. He seems to have short term memory loss (but his long term memory is ok.) My mom says it's only temporary, but I've visited him three times and he doesn't seem to be getting better. I spoke to a doctor and he said it's unclear whether the memory loss is permanent. Does anyone know a stroke victim who has lost memory? Did the person ever recover his or her memory loss?

Answer 1

Hi. I've been a speech-language pathologist for 12 years specializing in neurogenic communication and cognitive disorders. First of all, not having seen your father's record, I can only speak in generalities. But, I have seen and treated 100s of stroke and haed injury patients during my career so I speak from experience in what I'm about to tell you.

Your father's stroke occured a couple of days ago. That is a very short amount of time. Depending on the type of stroke your father had, the brain may still be swollen, there may be areas that had blood spilled into then that are now clearing out, or there may be areas that did not get enough oxygen but are now healing. In any case, the brain needs some time to heal before anything can be predicted for sure.

Short term memory loss is very common after stroke but most people experience spontaneous recovery within the first 6-12 months post stroke regardless of whether they receive therapy or not. During this time, the healing described above will occur and neural pathways will be reconnected. The amount of recovery varies depending upon the extent of permanent damage that occured.

That being said, it is wise to seek speech/cognitive therapy at a rehabilitation facility. First of all, repetition helps regenerate neural pathways and a trained therapist can evaluate and design a program to fit your father's deficits and goals. Also, an evaluation will give you an objective baseline by which you can measure progress in the future.

Just some notes of encouragement: At worst, your father can learn compensatory strategies and techniques to support his memory (like using calendars, appt books, etc). At best, he will return to normal. Don't despair. There is so much hope. I have seen amazing miracles in my time and have always walked away blessed for having met these special people and their families.

Just please, make sure your father's doctors have found the reason for this stroke and are taking proper measures to ensure that he doesn't have another one.

Answer 2

I do not know personally anyone, but as a caregiver at a retirement village, strokes often result in memory loss... although I've observed it is short term memory that worsens.

I do not know all the medical reasons, but strokes affect the brain as do T.I.A.s (I think they are like mini strokes, then again, im not a registered nurse)...

So your dad is not unusual in showing memory loss... however the doctor would be right about being unclear as to whether it will be permanent.

Answer 3

It depends on the severity of the stroke and what parts of the brain have been affected and how badly. Stroke patients who gets lots of rehab. input do best, and they need to keep this rehab going as long as possible. They also have to be strong and determined. It is way too soon to say how he will recover. If it was a full stroke progress is slow. Progress may come by the week then by the month, take each day as it comes. Try not to panic.

Remember he will almost certainly be confused so don't mistake this confusion for memory loss. It is common for the wrong words to come out when in fact the patient knows exactly what it is they are trying to say.
As for his outcome, you will only really know this in time.

Best wishes

Answer 4

I have to say that I haven't experienced this; but please read on.

There is a 'game' that was created by a Japanese doctor, Ryuta Kawashima, for the Nintendo DS hand held system. This game has been in studies with stroke patients and Alzheimer's victims and had proven to help restore memories and functions of the brain once thought lost. This is because of the unique design of the 'game' that helps the 'player' reroute the synapses over the dead ones.

This game is called BRAIN AGE, and will also help unimpaired persons to sharpen their cognitive thinking skills.

I hope this helps at the very least. God bless you and may good luck be with your father.

Answer 5

I have two stories.
My mom had a stroke and her memory problems got much worse and she has not gotten any better. It took her awhile to become aware of it. But she's not trying to solve her memory problems anyway, so could she get better if she tried, dunno?
I did not have a stroke but my brain is swollen (for other reasons) and I have suffered memory problems. However, I have gone to great lengths to exercise my brain in various ways, testing myself, being aware, doing things in alternative ways, and it has made a difference. Trial and error.
You'll probably only know if its permanent if you dad is willing to test things out, try and fail, try and fail again, etc. in order to know if it's permanent or if he's just given up. I believe where there is a will there is a way, but also know that in these such circumstances, will may have nothing to do with it. You only know if you try and test, and you can do this with him.

Answer 6

I've damaged my short term memory capabilities from a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). This is called anterograde amnesia.
My roommate in the hospital, after they moved me down from the ICU, had had a stroke. They said our brain damage was very similar. So similar, I hear they called us the twins. A few months after leaving for outpatient therapy, I went to my twin's funeral.
My short-term memory has improved a lot. It's still imperfect, though, and I know I need to focus on gratitude for being alive and still having a memory. In my experience, memory improves as it is exercised. By returning to college and finishing my degree, not once but twice, I have restored my memory to levels previously thought impossible for a person with a brain injury of my level of severity. I'm extremely grateful to God. Call that what you may, but as one who lived the experience, I choose to give the thanks to Him, and have no shame in so doing.

Answer 7

its a normal thing for them to have memory loss and they will remember things they forgot many years past. It all depends on how long he had the stroke before he got to see a doctor and how severe the stroke was. If he has paralysis now it most likely will be a permant thing.

Answer 8

you need to have therapy. I know someone who could not speak after the stroke and was eventual able to talk

Answer 9

It's difficult to tell with the Brain, you have to let it regenerate on it's own,

Answer 10

sometimes its just short term and the will ofthe person mean alot also