Aphasia is a much more common condition than many people realize, but it can cause your elderly family member to isolate herself because it makes communicating with other people so very difficult. Aphasia causes a wide array of communication difficulties, and this is something that your senior may not be able to fix or resolve on her own. She may need some additional help from other professionals.
What Is Aphasia?
Aphasia is a communication disorder related to damage in the brain that affects a person’s ability to communicate with the people around them. Sometimes people experience aphasia only with the written word, but most people experience difficulty speaking with aphasia. Aphasia can occur because of a traumatic brain injury, such as after a concussion, or it can occur as a result of a stroke or brain tumor. People who have aphasia may have trouble coming up with the right word when they need it or they may be unable to put sentences together at all. There are lots of different degrees and types of aphasia that could be affecting your senior.
Is it Possible to Treat Aphasia?
Diagnosing aphasia involves a few different examinations, some from your senior’s primary care physician and possibly from other specialists, like a neurologist. Sometimes an MRI can help to narrow down what might be happening, but often aphasia is diagnosed through talking with your senior. Treating aphasia really depends on what has caused the problem in the first place. Some people with aphasia spontaneously recover their communication abilities with no aftereffects. Other people may not be so lucky. Sometimes treatment methods can help to treat aphasia or at least allow your senior to communicate with others.
Speech Therapy and Aphasia
Speech therapy at home is most effective for a senior with aphasia if it starts quickly after the aphasia is diagnosed. Occupational therapy around speech involves making sure that your elderly family member is able to make progress with her communication skills. That can happen by trying some exercises that assist her in operating her mouth and tongue properly. It can also happen via using technology that makes it easier for your elderly family member to communicate with you and with other people in her life.
Trying Various Techniques Can Help
Using all of the tools available to her can help immensely, and occupational therapy can assist your senior in finding out which tools are most likely to be helpful for her. Continuing these treatments on a consistent basis can help your elderly family member to continue to make improvement in her battle against aphasia. The big key is to help your senior to remain calm and to help her to celebrate progress as she experiences it.
For some seniors, aphasia may be permanent. That doesn’t mean that working with occupational therapists won’t be helpful, however. Getting the help that your senior needs can make life less stressful for her as she tries to communicate with the people she encounters on a daily basis.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering Occupational Therapy in Woodbridge, VA please contact the caring staff at Passion Home Health Solutions LLC today at. 703-462-9141
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