Communication can look different as a result of a stroke, brain injury or neurological disorder such as dementia. This is not only frustrating for those struggling to communicate but also leaves family, friends, and caregivers wondering what they can do to help. It can be especially hard on caregivers as well, as they cope with the changes in their loved one and their life situation.

There is often some degree of spontaneous recovery of brain function after a stroke or brain injury, and the brain has amazing abilities to heal and compensate for damage over time. This means that some communication abilities may improve on their own, with speech-language therapy, and with consistent at-home practice. Further, just like your speech and language abilities can change over time, so can the way you communicate. With this in mind, it is important to remain patient, open-minded, and flexible to different communication approaches that may work for you. In fact, consider redefining what “normal” communication means.

Key Takeaways:

When it is still difficult to get the words out, remember that the main goal of communication is to get your message across. Speaking is not the only way to do this. In fact, most people use a range of communication approaches every day—we talk, change our tone of voice, point, wave, and use facial expressions.

Practicing with different communication tools and techniques can allow you to adapt and actively participate in conversations throughout different stages of recovery. Consider some of the options in this infographic.

While changing your means of communication can feel new and frustrating, there are strategies and tools that you can put into action to overcome the communication challenges.