About aphasia
Aphasia is a communication disability which occurs when the communication centres of the brain are damaged. It is usually caused by stroke, but can also be caused by brain haemorrhage, head injury or tumours.
What does having aphasia mean?
Each person with aphasia experiences it differently. Some people cannot speak at all; some people have just a few words. Others can no longer read, write or use numbers.
Everyday activities such as having a conversation, answering the phone, watching television, may suddenly become a source of profound frustration and anxiety both for the person with aphasia and for their families, friends and carers.
How many people have aphasia?
Aphasia is more common than you would think. Every 11 minutes three people in the UK have a stroke. About a third of those people will have aphasia. In addition there are people who have aphasia through brain injury or tumour. So you may not have heard of aphasia but you probably know someone who has it – perhaps a relative or a friend.
Dysphasia
Types of aphasia
If you or a relative has got aphasia, you may have been told you have a special type of aphasia. This is dependent on which communication centres of the brain are damaged. For example,
Broca's Aphasia is when a person speaks with short sentences that make sense but require great effort.
Wernicke’s aphasia is when a person speaks in long sentences that may not have meaning or may even make up words.
Global aphasia is when the aphasia is very severe.
Sarah's aphasia
My interpretation: When the surgeon removes Shirley, she will damage or move parts of my brain. Shirley is based in the part of my brain that is responsible for speech and behaviour. After the op, the brain will be swollen. In this condition it may not connect properly. As it shrinks back, it will join up properly and start to function properly again. Before it heals, all the connections may be incorrect, and who knows what will happen! Wish me luck...
Tips for supporting someone with aphasia
Top ten tips http://www.ukconnect.org/toptips.aspx
People with aphasia may find it difficult to:
- take part in a conversation
- talk in a group or noisy environment
- read a book or magazine or road sign
- understand or tell jokes
- follow the television or radio
- write a letter or fill in a form
- use the telephone
- use numbers and money
- say their own name or the names of their family
- express their immediate needs or ideas or words
- go outHa ha - this all looks like me as I am fit and well!!!!
- slow down
- resist finishing sentences
- adapt the way they communicate
- keep the conversation going
- understand what a person is saying
- know what to do
Hi Sarah, I don't know if you got my email, but I found out about Shirley from Bev. I can't believe it, and don't really know what to say except I hope the surgery goes well and that you return to your family a renewed person free from Shirleys grip and that you recover quickly. You sound very positive about it all and that's the only way to be, I try and be as positive as I can throughout my life with MS, whatever it throws at me and try hard to throw it back. Good luck with the op tomorrow I will be thinking of you. Bev said she will keep me updated. Lots of love Lin (Bristol)
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah! you will recover sounding all totally posh! will take you to the next garden party at Inner Temple gardens! gee x
ReplyDeleteSarah, I have no doubt you'll recover! We're all thinking of you at school and all send our love! I still owe you dinner!
ReplyDeleteLove
David
x
The communication difficulties are caused by swelling. When the brain is swollen, it doesn't connect correctly. As the swelling reduces, the connections come back and my speech will return. I don't definitely gat this problem, but I am happy to understand it better.
ReplyDelete