The Benefits of Speech Therapy for Stroke Patients
What Is a Stroke?
A stroke is a medical emergency in which the blood supply to part of the brain is seriously reduced or interrupted, cutting the brain off from receiving vital nutrients and oxygen. In order to reduce the risk of brain damage and any other negative side effects from a stroke, early intervention and treatment are vital. There are two main types of strokes, Ischemic and Hemorrhagic. An ischemic stroke occurs as a result of a blood clot or a lack of blood flow to the brain. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when blood from an artery suddenly begins bleeding into the brain.
How Can Speech Therapy Help Stroke Patients?
It is not uncommon for stroke patients to have Aphasia which is a disorder that affects your ability to process language. If someone is suffering from Aphasia they will have difficulty reading, writing, and speaking. Aphasia is experienced by about 40% of stroke survivors. Speech Therapists can assist in treating Aphasia through a variety of methods including Impairment and Communication-based therapy. Another vital treatment speech therapists assist with is swallowing. Speech Therapists can utilize different treatment approaches such as modalities like NMES to help those suffering with any swallowing issues following a stroke. Speech Therapists will also aid the stroke patient in maintaining their independence and mobility by providing information on compensatory strategies. The focus on the speech therapy exercises is to maintain or regain these abilities at a high level of recovery.
10 Speech Therapy Exercises for Stroke Recovery
- Strengthen your tongue and lips
- Match and identify objects
- Use “Real Life” activities
- Practice thinking of words
- Understand words and paragraphs
- Improve reading comprehension skills
- Practice writing
- Learn how to make sense of numbers
- Improve visual attention
- Putting steps in order
If you or your loved one are in need of home health care services or just curious on what Med1Care Home Health can offer please give us a call at 419.855.0555 or visit www.med1care.org!
