5 Steps to to easier, less-frustrating word-finding

Practical word-retrieval (aphasia) suggestions from our speech therapist, based on research.

One of the most common (and frustrating) deficits people come to us with is word-finding difficulty. I call it tip of the tongue syndrome because the words are all just beyond the mouth, on the tip of your tongue.  The most common diagnosis associated with this is Anomia or Expressive Aphasia.  Here are some tips for word-retrieval.

Try these treatment techniques:

1. Wait.  Take a little break, and don’t try so hard to get exactly the right word – sometimes it will come to you in a minute(graphic)

2. Use your hands. Get your point across with a gesture (graphic)

3. Draw a picture.  Get your point across with a sketch (graphic)

4. Write a word.  Even if you only write a few letters, it might help your partner guess your meaning (graphic)

5. Say words which are related.  Come up with a color, shape, use, or other words from the same category (graphic)

These suggestions all come from a treatment called “PACE,” which stands for “Promoting Aphasics’ Communication Effectiveness. “  This is a great treatment to practice at home, because you can use all those strategies when they count most – when you are really trying to say something important in a conversation.  It doesn’t take any special materials, and the reward is effective communication!

Printable  Therapy Reference

View the printable PDF version.

Hopefully, you're excited about the above tricks and tips.  Here are a few ways to put them into immediate practice.

Practice with friends or family

When you just want to tell your spouse what you would like for lunch, you might try anything – pointing, gestures, drawing a picture. Make sure they give you enough time.  I also highly recommend they review out the 3 Tips for better communication with Stroke (and Aphasia) survivors.

Practice with speech therapy software

You can build this skill with the Morespeech.com web app using the following Tasks within the Hearing & Listening Skill:

The lessons below will let you practice thinking of words related to the word you want (Step #5 above, from PACE Technique)
So, if you can't think of the word for a tall wooden thing that grows in forests, you would think of words that describe it (tall, green) , or parts of the object (leaves, roots) or what it does (provides shade)

#6 Descriptive Words (Adjectives) #7 Part/Whole Relationships #8 Object Functions

Challenge Yourself 

Then, Challenge your new skill (steps #1 and #4, from above ) with  Writing Skills  or the Speaking tasks of the Morespeech.com  webapp. # 4 Picture-Naming: Nouns #5 Picture-Naming: Verbs

If you have a Windows PC, you can can also practice your new word-retrieval technique with free trials of the speech therapy software I work on:

Sights'n Sounds 1 Spoken-naming Aphasia Tutor 1: Words Written-naming (you type or choose the word for the picture in Lessons 5 thru 8) Aphasia Tutor 2: Sentences Written-naming: you type or choose the word to complete the phrase. You can download free trials of the above.

Coming Next....
Games to practice your new language skill 

The next issue of the Rehab Resources will cover games (which should be Activities of Daily Living for many families)  in detail.  I'll cover Charades, Scrabble, and Boggle and perhaps a few others.  If you play games that you think help you, comment below and let me know.