Slurred Speech and difficulties moving one side of the body are two symptoms of Stroke, an illness that affects the blood supply to your brain. Depending on which regions of your brain are affected, a stroke can have a variety of impacts on your body. You may feel weak or paralyzed in certain areas of the body, be unable to talk clearly, have trouble swallowing, or have trouble seeing.

What are the significant early warning signs of stroke?

• Trouble in speaking
• Numbness or weakness on either side of the body
• Sudden dizziness
• Severe headache
• Loss of balance and coordination
• Trouble in understanding speech

If you are experiencing any of these signs, reach out to the neurology specialist in coimbatore to get immediate treatment.

What are the common types of stroke?

Ischemic stroke:

This kind of stroke happens when the artery carrying oxygen-rich blood to the brain becomes clogged, drastically reducing blood flow. Blood clots, fatty buildup in the blood vessels, or other particles that have passed through the bloodstream and stuck in the brain’s blood vessels can cause blood vessels to narrow or become blocked during an ischemic stroke.

Hemorrhagic stroke:

This kind of stroke occurs when a cerebral artery bursts or leaks, flooding the brain tissue with blood. Blood leaks cause high pressure on brain cells, which causes damage. There are two subtypes of strokes that fall under the umbrella of hemorrhagic strokes. 

A burst brain artery that floods the surrounding tissue with blood causes an intracerebral hemorrhage, and bleeding between the brain and the thin tissues that cover the brain is referred to as a subarachnoid hemorrhage. There are various complications of a stroke that can follow if treatment is not received at time. 

How does stroke affect the ability of speech?

Speaking difficulties, weakness on either side of the body, poor memory and reasoning, and vision abnormalities are just a few of the long-term symptoms of the stroke. Being unable to express oneself after a stroke makes it challenging to return to your regular routine.

Issues with speech after stroke include:

Aphasia:

Language, speaking, and comprehending are all affected by the disorder known as aphasia. Depending on where and how much the brain has been damaged, it might vary in severity. The inability to locate words (“anomia”), arrange words incorrectly, convey thoughts clearly, or interpret the intentions of others are all indications of aphasia. Aphasia develops in about 25–40% of stroke survivors.

Dysarthria:

A person may experience dysarthria following a stroke, which can hinder communication by weakening the vocal cords. The mouth, lips, tongue, or the muscles that control breathing during speech can all be affected by dysarthria. These factors may cause persons who have dysarthria to sound different or less clear than usual.

Dysarthria does not interfere with the ability to understand others or choose the appropriate words to use, in contrast to aphasia.

Dyspraxia:

Similar to dysarthria, dyspraxia impairs muscle coordination and movement. The muscles that produce voice may be fully functional in a person with dyspraxia, but they may not be able to move them in the proper order or sequence to produce the sounds required for consistently coherent speech. In this sense, dyspraxia makes it challenging to pronounce words correctly.

What causes a stroke that affects speech?

One explanation is that the nerves that control the speaking muscles may have been harmed by the stroke. Speaking may become challenging or perhaps impossible as a result of this. Another explanation is that the stroke might have damaged the brain directly, which might impair speech abilities and make it difficult to talk.

How can speech therapy help stroke patients?

It can be upsetting and disappointing to experience communication difficulties following a stroke. Aphasia does not impair intelligence, despite what some people may believe based on how it develops. Fortunately, Speech Therapy can lessen the effects of stroke-related aphasia, making everyday tasks like reading, writing, and participating in conversations better. 

Speech-language pathologists evaluate, diagnose, and treat speech, voice, language, cognitive-communication, swallowing capacity, and other related impairments during speech therapy. A speech-language pathologist develops a customized stroke treatment plan for each patient in collaboration with the patient and their support team. The goal of this approach is to assist the patient in achieving the maximum degree of language and communication function conceivable.

The brain’s innate capacity to reorganize itself is known as neuroplasticity, and it plays a large role in speech-language pathology. Neuroplasticity is used to induce the brain’s healthy regions to take over language processing. Working through numerous speech therapy activities with a speech-language pathologist will promote new areas of the brain to take on the responsibilities of speech and communication since neuroplasticity is sparked by repetitive stimulation.

A speech-language pathologist can check the health of the vocal cords, swallowing muscles, and functional voice in addition to performing diagnostic tests and providing medical speech pathology services as needed. A speech-language pathologist can give the patient the most beneficial therapy by being more aware of any functional deficiencies within the patient.

How long does it take to get over a stroke?

The first three to four months is what follows for a stroke recovery and it is usually the fastest, but some stroke survivors continue to improve far into the first and second years.

Can speech therapy help stroke affected patients with speech?

Speech therapy after a stroke is a great approach to enhance abilities related to communication, cognition, and swallowing through individualized exercises, adaptive strategies, and information.

Important Takeaway:

Coping with the impact of a stroke on speech is a challenging journey, but it is one that offers hope and opportunities for improvement. With the support of speech therapy, a strong network of friends and family, and a positive attitude, individuals can make substantial progress in their speech recovery. 

It’s important to remember that each person’s experience is unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. The key is to embrace the journey, stay committed to your goals, and explore the strategies and techniques that work best for you. In time, with dedication and perseverance, speech recovery is not only possible but also a remarkable testament to the resilience of the human spirit. If you facing any of these signs immediately seek stroke treatment in coimbatore to maintain good health.

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