my husband had a STROKE 2 months ago and suffers from AFASIA....?

Question

Does anyone know of a good therapy procedure for this and what type of vitamins would help his memory.

Answer 1

It is spelled aphasia and speech therapy would help him a lot. Even at home you can help him to pronounce words correctly. Be patient however because he will get frustrated at times.

Answer 2

I'm really impressed with the answer you received from the nurse who has worked with aphasics in nursing homes. She was very thorough and gave you practical tips. However, I just wanted to clarify that the aphasic person actually may not understand everything you say as another answerer referenced receptive aphasia (difficulty understanding language). That is why her recommendation of using simple sentences can be so crucial. Contrary to what someone said, you cannot cause another stroke using improper speech therapy techniques but there is some evidence in the recent literature that you may not want too intensive a treatment regimen until 3-6 months post stroke. The idea to find support groups is excellent. I don't know where you live but in US - check out National Aphasia Association. Good luck. I've seen many success stories. You aren't alone.

Answer 3

Your husband should be recieving speech therapy to help him recover his speech ability. He is early in the recovery stage, and how much he recovers depends on how much of the speech center was damaged by the stroke. Although he should certainly be eating a well balanced diet, there aren't any vitamins that would be of any particular help in this area. The trouble is the brain cells that control speech themselves have been damaged or eliminated by the stroke. Cells that were only slightly damaged may recover, and new neural pathways will be constructed, so over time you may see improvement. It's just hard to say how much that will be. Keep in mind your husband still understands language, he just can't coordinate his own to speak. You have to encourage him to keep trying, no matter what. The most common recommendations for family members are:
Family members are encouraged to:


Simplify language by using short, uncomplicated sentences.

Repeat the content words or write down key words to clarify meaning as needed.

Maintain a natural conversational manner appropriate for an adult.

Minimize distractions, such as a blaring radio, whenever possible.

Include the person with aphasia in conversations.

Ask for and value the opinion of the person with aphasia, especially regarding family matters.

Encourage any type of communication, whether it is speech, gesture, pointing, or drawing.

Avoid correcting the individual's speech.

Allow the individual plenty of time to talk.

Help the individual become involved outside the home. Seek out support groups such as stroke clubs.

There are several associations and support groups for persons suffering from aphasia and their families. I highly encourage you to locate one near you for help. A quick internet search should bring up lots of information, both about the condition and the support groups. Also, the patient services at the hospital that cared for him should be able to provide this information to you, as well as the speech therapist working with him.
I worked in a nursing home and care unit for many years, and this was a common problem. We found many of the people had difficulty with speech, but were able to write and even sometimes sing-song to communicate. Fortunately, writing and singing are in different areas of the brain, and using them will sometimes be easier to jump start the speech recovery, or at least give them a way to communicate with less frustration. Don't let people speak "around" him, they will tend to forget he is listening because he isn't speaking, and may not even speak to him. That will make things worse, so just remind anyone doing it that his ears and brain do work, and they should speak to him directly. The more he attempts to speak, the more ability he will recover and maintain. It's a use and practice thing, mostly. Just be patient with him, and very supportive of whatever works best for him to communicate.

Answer 4

it depends on what kind of aphasia it is.You see there are 3: receptive aphasia, expressive aphasia & global aphasia. you need to also remember what the doctor advised because u couldnt just give therapy from what others tell you .there are specific interventions for every patient. doing unrecommended therapy might trigger another stroke and he might not survive on the next one.

its better you if get professional help (like physical therapists etc) and ask them as the significant other, what you could do at home like some simple exercises, surely they'll give you a program that is fit for your husband's condition..remember: it takes patience and understanding for you to do this...god bless and hope your husband is gonna get better soon.

Answer 5

co q-10 and l-carnitine, zinc, any way contact dr, richard becker of your health.