Aphasia - Treating aphasia

Sometimes aphasia will improve on its own without treatment, but a type of treatment called speech and language therapy is usually recommended.

This treatment is carried out by a speech and language therapist (SLT). If you were admitted to hospital, there should be a speech and language therapy team there. 

If you weren't admitted to hospital or didn't see an SLT while you were there, you can ask your GP to refer you. In some areas, you can contact your local speech and language therapy department directly.

For people with aphasia, speech and language therapy aims to:

• help you communicate to the best of your ability 
• help restore as much of your speech and language as possible
• find alternative ways of communicating

Evidence suggests speech and language therapy is more effective if it's started as soon as possible.

For many people, the most obvious recovery happens in the first six months. However, improvements can continue to be seen for much longer after this, even many years later.

How the therapy is carried out will depend on your circumstances. An intensive course of speech and language therapy may be recommended for some people. This involves a number of sessions spread out over a shorter period of time.

However, speech and language therapy can be exhausting, and an intensive course of treatment will not be suitable for everyone. For some people, shorter and less intensive sessions may be recommended.

Therapy may be individual sessions, groups, or using technology such as computer programmes or apps.

Assessment

The treatment you receive will depend on your general health and the difficulties you have with your speech, language or social skills, as there is no universally accepted treatment for aphasia.

An assessment will be carried out before therapy begins so the therapist can identify which aspects of language you have the most difficulty with.

A therapist will talk to you and your family to try to determine whether your problems are related to understanding language or if you have problems expressing yourself.

The assessment will then focus on the areas that need to be targeted in therapy. Other health problems that may impact your ability to communicate, such as hearing or sight problems, will also be taken into account.

Speech and language therapy techniques

The specific techniques used and the aims of the treatment will depend on each person's circumstances. Some examples are described below.

If you have difficulty understanding words, your SLT may ask you to carry out tasks such as matching words to pictures or sorting words by their meaning.

The aim of these tasks is to improve your ability to remember meanings and link them with other words.

If you have difficulty expressing yourself, your SLT may ask you to practise naming pictures or judge whether certain words rhyme. They may also ask you to repeat words that they say, with prompting if necessary.

If you are able to complete tasks with single words, your therapist will work on your ability to construct sentences.

Some techniques may involve working with a computer. Other methods may include group therapy with other people with aphasia, or working with family members.

This will allow you to practise conversational skills or rehearse common situations, such as making a telephone call.

An increasing number of computer-based programmes and apps are available to help people with aphasia improve their language abilities.

However, it's important to start using these alongside a speech and language therapist.

Alternative methods of communication

An important part of speech therapy is finding different ways for you to communicate. Your therapist will help you develop alternatives to talking, such as using gesture, writing, drawing or communication charts.

Communication charts are large grids containing letters, words or pictures. They allow someone with aphasia to communicate by pointing at the word or letter to indicate what they want to say.

For some people, specially designed electronic devices, such as voice output communication aids (VOCAs), may be useful. VOCAs use a computer-generated voice to play messages aloud.

This can help if you have difficulty speaking but are able to write or type. There are also apps available on smartphones and computer tablets that can do this.

If a communication device is felt to be beneficial, funding for the purchase of an individual device can be discussed with a speech and language therapist.

Communicating with a person with aphasia

If you live with or care for a person with aphasia, you may be unsure about the best way to communicate with them.

You may find the following advice helpful:

• After speaking, allow the person plenty of time to respond. If a person with aphasia feels rushed or pressured to speak, they may become anxious, which can affect their ability to communicate.
• Use short, uncomplicated sentences and do not change the topic of conversation too quickly.
• Avoid asking open-ended questions. Closed questions that have a yes or no answer can be better.
• Avoid finishing a person's sentences or correcting any errors in their language. This may cause resentment and frustration for the person with aphasia.
• Keep distractions to a minimum, such as background radio or TV noise.
• Use paper and a pen to write down key words or draw diagrams or pictures to help reinforce your message and support their understanding.
• If you do not understand something a person with aphasia is trying to communicate, do not pretend you understand. The person may find this patronising and upsetting.
• Use visual references, such as pointing, gesturing and using objects, to support their understanding.
• If they are having difficulty finding the right word, prompt them – ask them to describe the word, think of a similar word, try to visualise it, think of the sound the word starts with, try to write the word, use gestures, or point to an object.

Other treatments

Research is currently being carried out to study whether other treatments can benefit people with aphasia.

These include:

• medication – such as piracetam, bifemelane, piribedil, bromocriptine and idebenone
• transcranial magnetic stimulation – where an electromagnet placed on the scalp is stimulated for a short time using an electric current to stimulate parts of the brain affected by aphasia

Although some studies have suggested these treatments may benefit some people with aphasia, further research is necessary. You can search the database of clinical trials for aphasia to find trials that are studying these treatments.

Advice for carers

Helping to care for a loved one, relative or friend with aphasia can be a daunting and challenging prospect, particularly during the first few months after the onset of symptoms.

People with aphasia often have complex needs, and their condition can make them prone to mood swings and challenging behaviour.

If you're caring for someone with aphasia, you may find the Care and support section of this website useful, particularly the section on communication problems.

Speakability, Connect and the Stroke Association are the main UK charities that provide help and support for people affected by aphasia.