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Adult Services

What Is Aphasia?

Aphasia is a complex communication disorder that results from damage to specific areas of the brain, often caused by strokes, traumatic brain injuries, or neurological conditions. It impairs a person's ability to comprehend, express, and use language, affecting their speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. 

Common Symptoms of Aphasia

  • Word-finding difficulties ("tip of the tongue")
  • Using incorrect or made-up words
  • Repetitive speech
  • Difficulty understanding spoken or written language
  • Challenges with reading, writing, and/or spelling
  • Slow, less fluent speech with increased pauses
  • Reduced initiation with conversation
  • Speaking in primarily single words or short phrases that often are not grammatically correct 

What is Dysarthria?

Dysarthria is a motor speech disorder resulting from damage to the nervous system's pathways and muscles that control speech production. It affects the ability to articulate words clearly and fluently due to weakened, imprecise, or uncoordinated movements of the muscles involved in speech, including those responsible for respiration, phonation, resonance, and articulation.

Common Symptoms of Dysarthria

  • "Slurred" speech quality
  • Irregular rate of speech (slow, fast, rushes of speech)
  • Difficulty producing specific sounds
  • Difficulty producing multisyllabic words
  • Variable volume
  • Monotone
  • Abnormal pitch (higher, lower, monopitch, pitch breaks)
  • Fatigue with prolonged speaking
  • May be accompanied by voice changes 
  • Reduced breath support

Cognitive Therapy

Cognitive speech therapy, also referred to as cognitive-communication therapy, is a specialized therapeutic approach designed to address and improve communication difficulties resulting from cognitive impairments. Individuals who have experienced brain injuries, strokes, or neurodegenerative disorders often benefit from cognitive speech therapy as it aims to help them regain and strengthen their communication skills by addressing the underlying cognitive challenges that may be impacting their ability to express themselves, comprehend language, and interact with others. 

Common Symptoms of Cognitive Disorder

  • Memory impairment
  • Attention and/or concentration difficulties
  • Poor thought organization and sequencing
  • Impaired program solving and reasoning
  • Reduced initiation and/or follow through of tasks
  • Changes in mood and behavior
  • Reduced awareness or denial of deficits
  • Decreased understanding of social norms
  • Challenges with spatial awareness 
  • Disorientation and/or confusion

Not Sure If Speech Therapy Is Right For You?

Q: Is it too late to start speech therapy if I had a stroke or brain injury years ago?

Absolutely not! Initially, you may have experienced improvements in your overall functioning rather quickly. Over time, you may have noticed that the changes slowed down, and it seemed as though you had hit a plateau. However, the brain is truly amazing in that it is always making new connections and improving as long as we continue to stimulate it! With the right goals and tools, progress is possible - even years later.

Q: How long will it take before I get back to where I was before?

The rate and amount of progress will vary between individuals and is dependent on many different factors including the amount of support provided in the home and motivation to participate and practice strategies as recommended. Many of my clients experience "good days" and "bad days" which is often mistaken for a regression in progress. In reality, your brain is still recovering and speech therapy is hard work. Speech therapy can equip you with the tools you need to efficiently navigate your road to recovery.

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Are You Ready For A Change?

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