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Losing speech after a stroke can negatively affect mental health – but therapy can provide hope

Around 25% of adults will have a stroke in their lifetime. And around one-third of stroke survivors will be left with damage to the part of their brain that decodes and organises language – leaving them with a disability known as aphasia. Aphasia can affect speaking and understanding as well as reading and writing abilities, but does not affect intelligence. It can vary in severity from getting a few words mixed up, to being unable to say any words.

https://theconversation.com/losing-speech-after-a-stroke-can-negatively-affect-mental-health-but-therapy-can-provide-hope-160581


Comments

  • AmityAmity Administrator, Citizen
    Wow didnt realise it was as high as a quarter of all adults.
  • Neither did I.
  • verityverity Administrator, Citizen
    I suppose as it is common form of death that makes sense.
  • verityverity Administrator, Citizen
    edited June 2021
    I found this interesting

    why is the southeastern US more stroke prone? But not Florida...
  • Teach51Teach51 Citizen
    Yes it is interesting. It could be culturally related, meaning diet, fried foods, high consumption of meat etc, the South like their hash browns and fried chicken I believe. Florida is a retreat for retirement, perhaps New Yorkers and  other  such retirees  who relocate to Florida in search of the sun are more aware of health trends and less conservative in their adherence to ethnic and family culture, more universal in their search for what is considered healthy. Just a hypothesis. 
  • verityverity Administrator, Citizen
    edited June 2021
    Loss of speech woudl be tough. I know many recover it, but still. I had a Godmother with with MS who temporarily went blind, and lived for years with decreased mobility, speak and toward the end cognition. Boy did she tough it out. 
  • verityverity Administrator, Citizen
    Teach51 said:
    Yes it is interesting. It could be culturally related, meaning diet, fried foods, high consumption of meat etc, the South like their hash browns and fried chicken I believe. Florida is a retreat for retirement, perhaps New Yorkers and  other  such retirees  who relocate to Florida in search of the sun are more aware of health trends and less conservative in their adherence to ethnic and family culture, more universal in their search for what is considered healthy. Just a hypothesis. 

    I'm conscious of derailing topic as as I understand this is more about the mental health impact. However there is still something odd about the graphic neatly following State lines.
  • Teach51Teach51 Citizen
    edited June 2021
    Around 25% of adults will have a stroke in their lifetime. And around one-third of stroke survivors will be left with damage to the part of their brain that decodes and organises language – leaving them with a disability known as aphasia. Aphasia can affect speaking and understanding as well as reading and writing abilities, but does not affect intelligence. It can vary in severity from getting a few words mixed up, to being unable to say any words.

    https://theconversation.com/losing-speech-after-a-stroke-can-negatively-affect-mental-health-but-therapy-can-provide-hope-160581


    Sorry for digressing.

    I have actually taken care of CVA  (Cerebral Vascular Accident or stroke ) patients for prolonged periods of time as a nurse. The sudden change from being healthy to being silent, partially paralysed, unable to communicate with their family and surroundings, literally being struck dumb is a terrifying experience. The sudden change in what a person can and cannot do is devastating. They need to be fed, bathed, assisted in using a bedpan, all these things are very invasive and lower self-esteem and cause depression. I have nursed patients who have eventually regained their speech ability after a very prolonged rehab process but this does not always happen of course. In my hands- on  experience much of the patient's  mental anguish results from family and people that stroke patients need to interact with treating them as if not being able to verbalize their thoughts equals being retarded, they shout at them or speak slowly to them as if they are cognitively impaired. Giving such patients writing equipment or a tablet where they can communicate their feelings and needs helps to a certain extent but these patients sense of autonomy and safety in their environment is seriously impaired. It is a very long and frustrating process to restore speech and mobility and many post CVA patients become seriously depressed.

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