Aphasia - inability (or impaired ability) to understand or produce speech, as a result of brain damage.
Aphasia is most commonly caused by a stroke or other traumatic brain injury and is, therefore, not related to children, but rather older individuals who are more subject to neurological issues in the later stages of life. While this condition may not necessarily relate to the user group I am focusing my final product on, aphasia can impair one's communication usually in the form of a loss of speech and other communication strategies. In light of this, I looked into ways that individuals who suffer with communication commute or how others can help with their communication. The following information was sourced from the Aphasia Now 'Communication Strategies; Aids' PDF files:
Finding it hard to speak does not mean having nothing to say
Printable aphasia Communication Tips
Printable aphasia Communication Tips
Aphasia is a condition that affects the brain and leads to problems using language correctly. It is the result of damage to the parts of the brain involved in speaking, reading, writing and understanding others.
Ways that the brain can become damaged:
» Stroke
» Severe head injury
» Brain tumor
» Health conditions that cause progressive loss of cells from the brain, such as Alzheimer’s disease
» Infections, such as Meningitis and Encephalitis
Communication Tips
Ways that the brain can become damaged:
» Stroke
» Severe head injury
» Brain tumor
» Health conditions that cause progressive loss of cells from the brain, such as Alzheimer’s disease
» Infections, such as Meningitis and Encephalitis
Communication Tips
- Minimise distraction and background noise
- Make eye contact with the person
- Ensure their full attention
- Pitch, pause & pace use short clear sentences
- Speak clearly (articulate) »Remove unnecessary words
- Use familiar words avoid metaphors and abstract language
- Ask one question at a time: do you want tea? Do you want coffee?
- Use facial expression, tone of voice, pointing and gesture to explain yourself
- Be patient give the person space to respond
- Clarify and rephrase when necessary, especially with numbers
The Aphasia Alliance's
Top Tips for 'Aphasia Friendlier' Communication
Top Tips for 'Aphasia Friendlier' Communication
Using pictures
• photos are often better than clip-art, although not always
• put pictures near the text where appropriate
• use the appropriate picture for the context
• use a picture that describes the idea, not the word (e.g. do not use a picture of a cup of tea for 'making a cup of tea', show someone making the tea)
Conversations with people with aphasia
• avoid background noise where possible
• make eye contact with the person
• speak clearly
• speak at a normal speed, not too fast, not too slow (If you speak fast normally, slow down)
• use short clear sentences – give one piece of information at a time
• ask one question at a time - Do you want tea? Do you want coffee?
• don’t rush - allow time for the person to take in what you are saying
• be patient - give the person with aphasia space to respond at their pace
• signal a change of topic
• use facial expression, tone of voice, pointing and gesture to help explain what you are talking about
• have paper and pen available for both parties
• write down key words
• use maps, calendars and photos (e.g. family members) to show what you are talking about
• encourage the person to communicate in any way he/she can
• encourage the person to let you know when they have not understood
• clarify - and rephrase when necessary
• listen to and watch for clues in facial responses, tone of voice, pointing and gestures (non-verbal responses)
• allow time for rests
Public Speaking
• use short clear sentences
• speak clearly
• pitch - speak loud enough so that all can hear
• vary your tone of voice - don't speak at a monotone
• pause - don’t rush, pause occasionally
• pace - speak at a normal speed, not too fast, not too slow
• signal a change of topic
• clarify - and rephrase when necessary
• summarise
• do not speak for too long - allow for rests
• photos are often better than clip-art, although not always
• put pictures near the text where appropriate
• use the appropriate picture for the context
• use a picture that describes the idea, not the word (e.g. do not use a picture of a cup of tea for 'making a cup of tea', show someone making the tea)
Conversations with people with aphasia
• avoid background noise where possible
• make eye contact with the person
• speak clearly
• speak at a normal speed, not too fast, not too slow (If you speak fast normally, slow down)
• use short clear sentences – give one piece of information at a time
• ask one question at a time - Do you want tea? Do you want coffee?
• don’t rush - allow time for the person to take in what you are saying
• be patient - give the person with aphasia space to respond at their pace
• signal a change of topic
• use facial expression, tone of voice, pointing and gesture to help explain what you are talking about
• have paper and pen available for both parties
• write down key words
• use maps, calendars and photos (e.g. family members) to show what you are talking about
• encourage the person to communicate in any way he/she can
• encourage the person to let you know when they have not understood
• clarify - and rephrase when necessary
• listen to and watch for clues in facial responses, tone of voice, pointing and gestures (non-verbal responses)
• allow time for rests
Public Speaking
• use short clear sentences
• speak clearly
• pitch - speak loud enough so that all can hear
• vary your tone of voice - don't speak at a monotone
• pause - don’t rush, pause occasionally
• pace - speak at a normal speed, not too fast, not too slow
• signal a change of topic
• clarify - and rephrase when necessary
• summarise
• do not speak for too long - allow for rests