My husband had a stroke in May 2015. The blockage was in the Brain Stem. Damage has caused: his short memory to be patchy, insistence that he is in control of his decisions, when to me they are not logical, snappy (which, from other questions on this site is part of post stroke) and other characteristics which were not present before stroke. His former silly habits have become enhanced and he is unaware of this, he accepts that his balance is not the same but wont accept the other changes and claims he has always been that way. We are aware that the brain has "plasticity" and can make new path ways, but where does that type of guidance and training come from???

Hello,

Sorry to hear about your husband’s stroke and the changes you’re experiencing. Neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain to change. After a stroke, pathways in the brain can change so that undamaged parts of the brain can take over the jobs of damaged areas.

Is your husband still seeing a neuro rehab team? An occupational therapist, speech pathologist or neuropsychologist would be able to help work with him on these areas. It is difficult if he doesn’t have the awareness or insight that these things are an issue. It can be difficult to make changes and to tap into this process of neuroplasticity if he has limited insight in that particular area. Having assessments to obtain a baseline and trained therapists working with him to provide feedback and attempt to increase his awareness and develop new strategies would be helpful. The relevant areas of enableme for you to view are thinking, personality changes and information about neuropsychology. You might also like this conversation about neuropsychology and there is a good link within that thread about what to expect in a neuropsychology assessment.

You may also like to check out Norman Doidge’s books The Brain that Changes Itself or The Brain’s Way of Healing.

It may be beneficial for you to call us on StrokeLine to discuss further on 1800 787 653 (9am-5pm Mon-Fri).

Best wishes,

Simone – Occupational Therapist for StrokeLine