Why can't I speak or swallow after a stroke? & bull; hello healthy

Strokes often make communication difficult. This is because several parts of the brain work simultaneously to allow us to speak and understand speech. Stroke that damages this important part causes speech problems.

The speech disorder is called aphasia or dysarthria. Dysarthria is difficulty with speech because the face, mouth, and tongue or jaw are weak. Aphasia is a linguistic problem. The most common types of aphasia are Wernicke and Broca.

What types of stroke cause dysarthria?

Any stroke that leaves the face, mouth, tongue or jaw weak or uncoordinated can lead to dysarthria. Large cortical stroke, stroke small white matter , brainstem strokes, and cerebellar strokes can all cause dysarthria if they can weaken the muscles that control the mouth. People with dysarthria usually have no problems understanding speech or reading and writing. Dysarthria often gets better with speech therapy and can get much better with exercise. Stroke sufferers with dysarthria may also experience dysphagia, which is difficulty swallowing, because speech and swallowing are controlled by many of the same muscles.

What types of strokes cause aphasia?

One side of the brain, often referred to as the dominant side, controls speech. The dominant side of your brain is the side that is on the opposite side of the dominant side of your hand. So, if you are left-handed, your dominant side is the right side of your brain, and if you are right-handed, your dominant side is on the left side of your brain.

Typically, a stroke that affects either Wernicke's or Broca's parts (the two main speech centers on the dominant side of your brain), can interfere with speech. Broca's part is in the upper center of your brain and Wernicke's is lower down, closer to your ear. These two parts are part of the cerebral cortex, which are parts of the brain that are often associated with higher order thinking skills and are commonly injured as a result of a "major stroke."

Broca's section allows you to speak more fluently and easily. A stroke on Broca's part can make it difficult for you to produce a voice, as if you are stuttering and with an abnormal tone of speech.

Wernicke's section allows you to understand language. Strokes on Wernicke's part fill your speech with slurred words, almost as if it makes you appear as if you are speaking another language. Wernicke's strokes also make it difficult for you to understand other people's speech and written language.

Can this condition be recovered after a stroke?

Speech reduction can improve after a stroke. Rehabilitation and speech therapy are usually more successful for people with Broca's aphasia (problems with rhythm) than with Wernicke's aphasia (problems with language). Most right-handed people who have aphasia after a stroke also experience some weakness in their right arm or right leg. Most left-handed people who have aphasia after a stroke have some weakness in their left arm or left leg.

What happens if I can't speak normally anymore?

Aphasia can definitely make life difficult. At times, bilingual stroke survivors with aphasia can communicate better with the language they learned in childhood than the second language. Some stroke survivors who have aphasia can learn to communicate through sign language or art. Aphasia and dysarthria can lead to depression and isolation. Use the available resources for speech therapy and try to maximize communication through sign language, facial expressions, body language and drawing to reduce feelings of isolation as much as possible.

What can I do if I treat someone with this condition?

If you live with a stroke survivor who has aphasia or dysarthria, this can be a challenge. Keep in mind that your loved one often keeps his feelings to himself and he doesn't know how to express them. Facial expressions and gestures can help with communication problems for people with aphasia or dysarthria. Typically, stroke survivors who have aphasia or dysarthria are able to communicate better with someone they spend more time with than with other people. If that person is you, then it makes your job much more challenging because you will be the voice of your loved one, with whom he cannot express himself to anyone but you.