3 Tools for Aphasia Communication

Making communication easier for those with expressive aphasia

I find that many people with aphasia can communicate if we make reasonable accommodations, such as speaking clearly, giving them time to speak, etc. But when they encounter someone new (say, a police officer, or grocery store clerk) the survivor doesn't get a proper chance to "collect their thoughts". Here are three tools for making communication easier.

Show this Aphasia Card for strangers

A simple solution is to show the new person this card. While they are reading it, it give the survivor time to collect their thoughts and start speaking.

 Printable PDF version of the card

Have the survivor write it

Some patients can write a word when they can not say it. And some can then read it aloud once they've written it. Thus writing can become a stepping-stone to speaking.  Also, the patient then has what I call a Treatment Shopping List. They have a list of all the words they had trouble with. They (or you) an then highlight the words in that list to work on. I often recommend this for people who use our Sights'n Sounds 1 program for speech practice. The Deluxe version of that program lets you add any words, pictures or sounds. So you can add the words they highlight from their shopping list.

Quick video on how to communicate with someone with aphasia

Excellent, easy-to-understand 2 minute video explaining how to make communication easier.

Want unlimited speech & language practice in your favorite chair?

Clay's day-job is creating speech & language treatment software at Bungalow Software.  You can try the  treatment software on your PC or the  MoreSpeech web-app on your iPad, Android or Mac.