How SLPs Help Stroke Patients with Aphasia
Speech-language pathologists (SLP’s) play a huge role in stroke rehabilitation. Strokes often cause aphasia. Aphasia can present as a loss of language or as having difficulty comprehending speech. SLP’s may help patients with stroke not only speak but understand language again. Here are 3 ways SLP’s can help stroke patients with language.
Provide Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy
This form of therapy focuses on building cognitive skills and transferring them to everyday life. SLP’s can work with stroke patients individually or in groups to provide cognitive rehabilitation therapy. With group therapy, patients can share strategies they use to complete therapeutic exercises and learn from one another how to problem-solve and overcome obstacles. Clinical research has proven that providing cognitive rehabilitation therapy is tremendously beneficial for recovery after stroke. SLP’s can provide a cognitive curriculum by using a combination of print and digital materials.
Host Conversation or Support Groups
Verbal fluency is often impaired for patients with stroke due to aphasia. Conversation groups can serve as a method of bridging. Participants can practice transferring learned cognitive skills during cognitive rehabilitation therapy to the real-world within these groups. In conversation groups or support groups, an SLP can direct a conversation with a group of patients focusing on a specific topic. This allows a topic of discussion and the ability to practice language skills.
Assign Homework
Therapeutic intervention does not have to stop at home. SLP’s can send patients home with specialized cognitive practice material. These materials may be printed worksheets or digital exercises. By assigning home practice for patients with stroke, patients can continue to improve their language comprehension and production at home. SLP’s can review completed material done by their patients to better understand what areas of language their patients are struggling with and which areas their patients are strong in. Assigning homework also helps the SLP modify their treatment plans so that they can then focus on the areas of language their patient is struggling with while maintaining strong ones.
Print Free Worksheets for Stroke Patients
Conclusion
Stroke is a leading cause of disability worldwide. It can affect children and adults causing lifelong cognitive problems. Speech-language pathologists are key for helping a person with stroke regain their language abilities and regain independence. By providing numerous different types of support, SLPs can help stroke patients regain language skills lost to their stroke.
Are you an SLP looking for a tool to provide cognitive rehabilitation therapy for your patients with stroke? Check out HappyNeuron Pro, a leading digital cognitive therapy tool for SLP’s like you.
