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These communication problems can show up in different ways, and each one can affect daily life. In this article, we will look at three main ways these challenges occur and how they impact everyday activities
What Part of the Brain Controls Communication?
Our ability to communicate is mainly controlled by the left side of the brain, especially in people who are right-handed.
Two key areas play a big role:
- Broca’s area helps in the production of speech, enabling the brain to translate thoughts into words. It’s also involved in language comprehension, grammar, and articulation.
- Wernicke’s area is a brain region crucial for understanding and comprehending language, particularly spoken and written words.
If a stroke affects these areas, it can lead to serious problems with speaking or understanding speech.
How Does a Stroke Affect Speech and Language?
The way a stroke affects communication depends on where the brain is damaged and how severe the stroke is.
Here are some common language and speech difficulties after a stroke:
1. Aphasia: Trouble with Language
Aphasia is a language disorder caused by damage to the parts of the brain that process language. It can affect a person’s ability to speak, understand, read, write, and even use gestures.
There are different types, including:
1. Expressive aphasia (Broca’s aphasia) A person knows what they want to say but struggles to form complete sentences. Speech may be slow and broken.
2. Receptive aphasia (Wernicke’s aphasia) The person may speak fluently, but their words may not make sense, and they often struggle to understand what others are saying.
3. Anomic aphasia: The main issue is word-finding. A person may speak clearly but struggle to come up with the right word.
Aphasia can be mild or severe, and the symptoms may change over time. It’s also possible to have more than one type at the same time.
2. Dysarthria: Muscle Weakness That Affects Speech
Dysarthria is a speech disorder caused by muscle weakness or poor muscle control. After a stroke, the muscles used for speaking, such as those in the face, tongue, lips, and voice box, become weak or hard to coordinate.
This results in speech that may sound:
- Slurred
- Slow
- Quiet or strained
- Flat or lacking tone
The person knows what they want to say, but their speech may be difficult for others to understand. Stress or fatigue can make speech even harder. About one in four people experience dysarthria after a stroke, and another one in four may have it along with aphasia.
Unlike aphasia, dysarthria is not about language, it’s about the physical ability to speak.
3. Apraxia of Speech: Problems with Speech Coordination
Apraxia of speech happens when the brain struggles to coordinate the movements needed to speak, even though the muscles themselves are not weak. It’s more about planning than strength. This makes it hard to speak on purpose, but automatic speech (like saying a familiar phrase) is usually not affected.
Someone with apraxia might:
- Say sounds in the wrong order (e.g., “hos-ti-pal” instead of “hospital”)
- Try several times to say a word correctly
- Get stuck or hesitate before speaking
- Say automatic phrases more easily than new or planned ones
Unlike dysarthria, where speech is consistently unclear, apraxia often leads to inconsistent errors. Some words might come out fine, while others are very difficult.
It’s less common than aphasia or dysarthria but may occur alongside them. A speech-language therapist is usually needed to tell the difference and plan the right treatment.
How does a Stroke Affect a Person’s Daily Life?
A study examining elderly individuals with aphasia found that they were less interested in activities of daily living. Compared to those without aphasia, they were less likely to go shopping, attend community meetings, or volunteer.
This reduced social participation can increase feelings of loneliness and anxiety. In some cases, stroke survivors have reported feeling extreme fatigue after doing something as simple as picking up the mail.
Improving Quality of Life After Stroke:
Apart from communication difficulties, a stroke can affect many aspects of a person’s ability to live a normal, independent life. At ConsidraCare, we provide specialized in-home stroke care in the Greater Toronto Area for seniors facing challenges such as reduced mobility, paralysis, and speech or language impairments.
Our team includes registered nurses and personal support workers who assist with rehabilitation, medication management, and monitoring to help prevent complications or the risk of a second stroke. We support your loved one physically and emotionally, knowing that many stroke survivors are also at risk of depression and emotional distress.
Contact us today to learn how we can help you or your loved ones after stroke
Wrapping Up:
Communication is how we connect and express ourselves. A stroke can interrupt daily life, but understanding how your condition is affecting you can make a big difference in your recovery.
FAQ’s
How long does it take for the brain to recover after a stroke?
Most recovery tends to happen within the first three to four months after a stroke. This is often when the brain begins to heal and rewire itself the fastest. However, improvement doesn’t stop there—many individuals continue to make meaningful progress even a year or two after their stroke, especially with ongoing rehabilitation like physical or speech therapy.
2. Can someone recover from aphasia after a stroke?
Aphasia is a common stroke effect that impacts how a person understands or uses language. The good news is that many stroke survivors do show improvement over time. With consistent speech therapy, support, and practice, many individuals regain some or even much of their communication ability, though the level of recovery can vary from person to person.
3. What’s the difference between aphasia and dysarthria?
While both conditions affect speech, they have different causes. Aphasia happens when the brain’s language centers are damaged, making it difficult to speak, understand, read, or write. Dysarthria, on the other hand, is caused by weakness or poor control of the muscles used for speaking. So in dysarthria, the person knows what they want to say, but their speech may sound slurred or unclear.
4. How can family and friends communicate better with a stroke survivor?
Supporting communication after a stroke means adjusting how we interact. Use short, clear sentences and give the person time to respond. Try using hand gestures, writing things down, or pointing to images if that helps. Make sure only one person speaks at a time and try to stay on one topic.
Fakiha is an experienced writer at ConsidraCare with an optimistic interest in life. She has a proactive approach to improving health and wellness for seniors. She offers well-researched and thoughtful information to help individuals make informed healthcare decisions for themselves and their loved ones.
