Communication Tips for Caregivers

Many family members of my patients ask me , “What can we do at home to communicate better?”.

Sometimes it is hard to remember that Aphasia does not a person’s intellect. People suffering from Expressive Aphasia know what is going on in their immediate surrounding. They realize that people are whispering in front of them or speaking loudly or using baby talk. They understand everything, they just cannot make the words come out right.

I am listing a few admittedly basic, but sometimes overlooked suggestions on how to communicate with your loved one.

1. First and Foremost, refer to the paragraph above and realize that Expressive Aphasia is a communication disorder and not a cognitive impairment. This should always dictate how you respond to your loved one.
2. You are not a therapist, so don’t try to be their therapist. Be a loving partner. Be an encouragement. Be a supporter.
3. At least once a day sit down and try to have a conversation with your loved one. Spend at least 15 minutes talking about whatever comes up. This is GREAT practice for a person with Aphasia. The more time you can converse – the better.

I have a lot more suggestions I will save for another day.

If you have any ideas or tips, please feel free to comment. The purpose of this blog is to foster interaction among readers and hopefully provide an amount of support for people with Aphasia and their caregivers