Hello Jen,
I just wanted to post to let you know that we have received your question but unfortunately our StrokeLine speechie is away this week. I will ask her to post a response to your question as soon as she is back next Thursday.
I spoke to our other StrokeLine team members, who recommended in the meantime you discuss this with your GP.
Apologies we can’t answer your question more promptly, we are so sorry for the delay.
Kind regards Jude (StrokeLine – Social Work)
Hi Jen,
Apologies for the late reply.
The word finding difficulties that you have described do commonly occur after a stroke; however I would expect your level of communication difficulty to be stable, if not improving, at 6 years post stroke.
There are a number of reasons as to why you may be having an increasing occurrence of communication difficulties: fatigue, stress, even the natural ageing process leads to more word finding problems. I would recommend that your GP investigate all possible causes and maybe even consider a referral to a neurologist.
Once we know what is causing these changes in communication, a Speech Pathologist will be able to provide you with communication exercises, strategies and tips.
If you would like to discuss things further please don't hesitate to call StrokeLine on 1800 787 653.
Best Wishes,
Alana (StrokeLine - Speech Pathologist)
Hi Jen,
I shared your question on Facebook too, and here are the responses from the community:
StrokeFamily.org Two tips: 1.) Take your non-weak (non-paralyzed) hand and make a hand puppet so your fingers touch your thumb. While you are talking tap your fingers together. Put your hand behind your back, casually while you talk and no one will notice. This can incite the brain to make new pathways (touch is important for brain development) while you are talking and you might find your speech more fluid. 2.) Cover/block one ear to find out if background noise and sound is interfering with your communication. After a stroke, it can be harder to process additional information such as extra sound. If one ear isn't the problem, try the other, to see if it has a problem with sensitivity. You can get a comfortable earplug to see if wearing it around helps. -- These are multisensory techniques my mother developed over 30 years to help with speech recovery. Try them out and let me know if they helped. Good luck! Keep trying!
Barbara Cafagna Jen, I too am 6 years post stroke and you know, I think that's just what can happen to us human. After having a stroke, we are so much more aware of the way we move, the way we speak and the way we do simple tasks. The minute we don't get it right, we immediately start to question ourselves and think something terrible is about to happen, AGAIN. My advice would be to keep an eye on when it's happening. You may be tired, as I can imagine you would be from time to time with 3 kids, or you may just be having an off day. Hope that helps smile emoticon
TessyLiz Stead I am 10 years post stroke and still have issues with words coming out wrong, often not noticed by others but frustrating to me. Some days worse than others, headache and tiredness increase this annoying issue.. keeping busy can help me, tryng to focus on word games, crosswords, not always easy as my brain too has lapses of memory for simple words but when i am on a good roll i take in what i say and remind myself that i am alive, i speak and can move around.. severe depression with the works took its toll plus having sleep apnea is the reason i had the stroke they say.. try to work on slower talking, do not think too far ahead on your words in conversation.. there was alot i loved to do pre stroke but the brain now is tired and cannot focus but only i can make it happen, even Bingo is too hard to handle but there are other things to keep you strong, find that focus and stick to it... pre stroke i also had 2 car açcidents which had bearing on alot of issues with me.. Good Luck, dont feel embarased, explain your issue in a way of understanding or just say you have verbal dyslexia some times and have your own language...
Elizabeth Robinson Year on with facial paralysis ( not from stroke) I have developed a stutter and slur my speech especially when tired. Probably impossible for a busy mum but try and find time to meditate and be selfish- Have a bath to relax. When friends ask can they do anything to help. Ask them to come over for an hour so you can have a bath or go for a walk with you. Easier said than done - friends drop off after a while. When it starts happening to me ( usually fatigue and /or stress) I stop, close my eyes and take a few deep breaths to re- centre. I get strange looks but get those anyway. Good luck. Know that you are not alone. Sending healing relaxing vibes. Love, light and hope
Vicki Newkirk Jen...I am eight years post stroke. I am on disability due to my memory depression and horrible anxiety. I was 30 years old and had 6 days until college graduation with 2 small children. The best thing I did for my thought process was brain games on the internet and reading my medical textbooks from school. If you need anything please msg me. I want to help. I've had meningitis twice since then so I totally understand how the brain works and I want to help you. Please let me
Zane Oliphant Just try not to be self critical I find I use simpler words sometimes because my mind goes blank. im 8years on and find it harder when tired but fight to be as "normal" as possible every day. Be kind to yourself, your still here.
Helen Stibbs May well be just due to fatigue (3 kids including 2 teenagers gasp emoticon ) and/or stress but best to get it checked out. You are a legend having to cope with these things only 6 years post stroke!
El JustEl I was 57 when I had my stroke. I'm 59 now, so only two years - frustrating. It seems the problems with my language get worse as I get older.
Emily Palmer, aphasia was a good suggestion. I had been told about that, handed a card which says "Sometimes I find it hard to speak, listen, read or write." I don't use that any more, but it's still in my wallet.
Jen, every person who had a stroke can have problems from them for many years - and some for the rest of their life! I belong to an Aphasia group where there are quite a few people who suffered a stroke, and their carers. If you live alone, you have to accept it. But if you have a partner, have kids, have friends, just make sure they know how you feel!
Cheryl Kovac I have that problem all the time when I'm tired, stressed or when the migraines hit or in the aftermath of the migraine. It's so frustrating. As the years have gone by I've learnt to accept it and rarely become embarrassed by it like I did before. I can even laugh about it now. When someone says something when I'm having difficulties finding the word or people's names I just blame it on the focal deep white matter high cerebral T2/FLAIR signal intensities in the Brain MRI and suddenly they are the ones looking for words. It's all a part of acceptance. You've been through something that has affected you physically and mentally and it's really ok not being able to function perfectly at all times, especially when busy raising a family. I usually find everyone's quite happy to help you find the right words. Sometimes you just have to use a substitute. My 13 year old will fire words at me all night if I don't stop him. That being said have a chat with your doctor to make sure it is not an indication of something else. It's easy to blame everything on a stroke or in my case the migraines, nerves and lupus. A quick checkup might just stop you worrying about it and that might actually help it improve. Hope that helps
Mark Westcott 7 years post stroke nearly here - I have a similar issue when talking - I know the words I want to use but just can never put them all together the way I imagine it should go. Gets very embarrassing when doing a presentation. I put it down more to being 56 and not let it get me down
Emily Palmer Has anyone ever suggested that you have Aphasia?
Bek Parker I have this problem too. 13 years post stroke
Lynda Harris contact a speech pathologist
Here is some more information about aphasia.
Hope this helps.
Diana
Yes I had to learn to speak and understand speech had to rely partly on lip reading, one time I could not use the phone, now I say to the caller speak slowly.
Yes I had to learn to speak and understand speech had to rely partly on lip reading, one time I could not use the phone, now I say to the caller speak slowly.
Yes I had to learn to speak and understand speech had to rely partly on lip reading, one time I could not use the phone, now I say to the caller speak slowly.