Ever feel like you just can’t get the word out? This happens to everyone, but if you’ve experienced a stroke, brain injury, or neurological condition, you may have a problem getting any words out at all. Speech therapists in Cresskill know this problem as aphasia, a neurological disorder that interferes with one’s ability to communicate fluently. Find out more about it and how speech therapy can help!
Speech Therapists in NJ define Aphasia
Aphasia is an acquired language disorder that results from illness or injury to the brain, most often affecting the brain’s left hemisphere. In the US, stroke and brain injury are the most common causes of aphasia, but brain tumors, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, or other progressive neurological conditions that cause damage to the brain can cause the same. Heavy alcoholics can experience a special, alcohol-induced sort of aphasia due to the damage that repeated, frequent alcohol use can do to the brain. Aphasia can be expressive (preventing the person from saying words or expressing thoughts), receptive (preventing the person from understanding or comprehending other people’s words), or both. Aphasia itself does not cause challenges to memory or other areas of cognitive functioning, but other effects of stroke or brain injury might. People with aphasia may use short, simple phrases known as telegraphic language (for example “you drive me store” for “will you drive me to the store”) or may use gestures, pointing, or “tracing” letters or numbers with a finger to help communicate. Aphasia can majorly limit a person’s life and independence.
Speech Therapy Interventions
Fortunately, speech therapy is often a vital and useful part of recovery for those with aphasia. For some patients, your speech therapist in Cresskill can help you recover your ability to speak, including making the physical movements with your tongue and lips, breathing appropriately, and speaking at a proper rate. This is especially important for those with physical trauma, such as left-side paralysis after stroke, or those who have had head injuries with lasting physical complications beyond the brain. For those with receptive aphasia (problems understanding), your speech therapist may work on tools to comprehend and understand, as well as building attention and memory. For those entirely unable to form words, a speech therapist can work with you and your family to embrace technology that will enable communication. Word boards, communication cards, and a variety of smart technology can help. Working with a speech therapist in Cresskill is the best way to maintain your independence after being diagnosed with aphasia.
Home Rehab Consultants is located in Englewood NJ and serves clients from Paramus, Parsippany, Newark, Maywood, Rochelle Park, Paramus, Hackensack, Englewood, Morristown, Mountain Lakes, Cresskill, Montclair, Bloomfield, Elmwood Park, and Ridgewood.
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