Language and Speech Disorders

Speech Disorders
There are a variety of speech disorders that may occur as a result of suffering a stroke. Speech impairments are usually a result of a stroke damaging the left side of the brain. Stroke speech recovery for these disorders will focus on speech and language therapy.

• Dysathria: is a reduction in coordination and strength in the muscles of the mouth and neck associated with speech. The oral muscles are affected and have become weakened due to stroke.

• Verbal Apraxia: is an inability to perform coordinated oral muscle movements required for speech even though there is no oral muscle damage or paralysis. Apraxia interrupts the messages from the brain to the oral muscles – the muscles are fine.

Language Difficulties
Aphasia is a communication disorder that may affect all aspects of language processing. A person with Aphasia could have problems reading, writing, naming (word finding), understanding spoken words, problem solving, reasoning, and gesturing.

Receptive Aphasia is the difficulty understanding spoken language or written words. Stroke Speech therapy for this type of aphasia focuses on regaining comprehension skills.

Expressive Aphasia affects an individual’s ability to express thoughts through speech and/or writing. Stroke Speech therapy for this type of aphasia focuses on verbal and nonverbal expression skills.
You can start improving your loved one’s Expressive Language skills by giving them clinical aphasia therapy on DVD. Please visit www.communicationpartner.com for more information.

Communication Partner’s video programs have provided stroke speech therapy for people suffering from Expressive Aphasia. Please visit our site www.communicationpartner.com for more information.