Mom has aphasia after her stroke. How do we communicate with her at home?

Difficulty finding and saying words after a stroke, while still understanding some speech, is consistent with aphasia, and her speech-language pathologist can confirm the type and teach your family specific ways to communicate.

Day-to-day strategies that often help:

• Talk in short, simple sentences, one idea at a time, and give her extra time to answer.
• Ask yes/no questions, or offer two choices ("tea or juice?").
• Use gestures, pictures, a picture board, writing or pointing.
• Reduce background noise: turn off the TV when you talk.
• Don't finish her sentences unless she asks, and don't pretend to understand; say "Let's try another way."
• Talk to her as an adult, and include her in family conversations.

Frustration and crying are common after a stroke. Acknowledge the feeling ("This is hard, I'm here") and take breaks. Persistent sadness or withdrawal may be post-stroke depression, which is common and treatable, so mention it to her doctor.

Ask her doctor about speech therapy if it is not already arranged; Medicare and many plans may cover it at home or outpatient when ordered.

Call 911 right away if she has new or sudden worsening of speech, face drooping or arm weakness.

An aide trained in stroke care can keep practicing these routines between therapy sessions; call our coordinators at (718) 232-2777.