Communication with Aphasic Clients-Free-Samples for Students

Question: How to communicate with Aphasic clients". Answer: Aphasia is a language disorder, which happens in case of damage in a specific region of the brain. A brain has two halves; damage on the left side of the brain results in language problems. It is often caused because of stokes. However, the other possible causes include brain tumor, head trauma, neurodegenerative diseases and infections. Aphasia may lead to several different problems ranging from trouble while talking, writing, reading or understanding spoken language (Goodglass, 2013). This paper will elaborate on the expected barriers to communicate with the Aphasic clients and the way to effectively communicate with them. Expected communication barriers- The symptoms of Aphasia may vary according to the location of brain damage (de Aguiar, Paolazzi Miceli, 2015). With the same, the signs or symptoms may or may not be there in an individual suffering from this disorder and may differ in the severity as well as level of the inference to communication. Some people have problem in writing or saying words correctly. This type of Aphasia is termed as expressive aphasia. In this case, people have the ability to understand what are being said them. If they do not understand the words in written way, then they are known to be suffering from receptive aphasia. Expressive aphasia is both fluent and non-fluent in nature, which means; in this case a person has trouble in speaking, finding out the right words, saying more than one word at a time. While in fluent aphasia, people are able to put many words together but the thing they say does not make any sense. Often they are not aware of the same as well. Strategies to improve communication with people suffering from Aphasia Communicating with people suffering with Aphasia might not be a simple task. They become frustrated when they realize that the others are not able to understand them or when they cannot understand others. It also makes them feel defeated and disappointed when they cannot find the right words (Carlsson, Hartelius Saldert, 2014). Language and speech therapists could work with the people who are suffering from this disorder and for their families to enhance their ability to communicate. However, before starting with anything, one must make it clear in his mind that there is difference between not knowing the answer and not being able to answer. Speaking inability is never a reflection of intellect. There are several ways to improve the daily communication with people suffering from Aphasia. Some of them are mentioned below: Keeping the noise and distractions down by turning off the TV and radio Moving to a less noisy or quieter room Talking with them in adult language. Never pretend that they are understood, if they are not. Never make them feel as if they are kids or children Do not shout at them when they cannot understand your language Always try to make an eye contact while talking to them While asking them questions, try to ask them Yes-No questions, so that they can answer easily Visual signal are also helpful if you can give them While giving them instructions, break those instructions into small and easy steps. In case if they tend to become frustrated, try to change the activity Encourage them to use other ways for communicating such as drawings, hand gestures and pointing. Providing a book of words and pictures regarding common people or topics to them as well as their family members would make the communication a lot easier. Always try to keep them involved in continuous conversation and ensure that they understand your sayings, but try not to force them too hard to make them understand, as this may result in frustration. Avoid correcting them if they remember something mistakenly. Always try to take them out for a walk or something, as they will then fell more confident about themselves. People suffering from Aphasia often think that they are different from the others and are less inferior to them. Taking them out will help them to practice understanding and communicating in a real-life situation (Saldert, Backman Hartelius, 2013). Be an alert, patient and attentive listener. Focus on what he or she is saying, instead of in what they are not saying. Online resources available for helping with communication barriers related to Aphasia Firstly, social media sites are perfect platform for people with Aphasia, as here they can post their massage in numerous ways. It is a indeed a great forum for them to build a relationship with other people. Whether they want to communicate instantly or if they decide to first craft their message properly, social media is providing them with ample of time to do so, allowing them for this to take place naturally. SCATM (Supported Conversation for Adults With Aphasia), is a method of communication, which uses a set of techniques or procedures in order to encourage conversation while communicating with people suffering from Aphasia, through body language and gestures, spoken and written keywords, detailed pictographs and hand drawings (Blom Johansson et al., 2013). It is designed particularly to help them to express their feelings and opinions in a much better way, which will further make them feel heard and valued and will encourage them to communicate more and more. By using this method, their partners (family members, friends, doctors and nurses) can help in breaking down the communication barriers and can further help the people suffering from aphasia to re-join their lifes conversations. BCA (Better Conversations with Aphasia) is an intervention that is available online. It is an e-learning resource that is freely available to improve the access to conversation therapy for the people suffering from aphasia and their families and friends; for the language and speech therapists (SLTs) and for the medics and healthcare workers who have to deal with them (Best et al., 2016). Though this resource the speech and the language therapists will have an access to the whole therapy program along with interactive learning materials and will get advice and instructions from the experienced clinicians. They can also learn how to conduct a conversation therapy with such clients. Furthermore, the people suffering from this disorder and their families will get help in finding out what this therapy is all about, and the perception of other people regarding conversation therapy. They will be then able to reflect them whether it is right or not. Lastly, the medics and the healthcare work ers shall be benefitted from it as it will help them learn how this disorder affects the everyday conversation of the clients. American Speech Language Hearing Association is another resource available for the same. It offers the people a wide range of information starting from language, hearing and speech disabilities in both adults and children. It will full pack with numerous educational information regarding the disorder of aphasia and its recovery process. With the same, the National Aphasia Association is also one of these online available resources that promote care, recovery and welfare of the people suffering from Aphasia via public education and support of research. It further offers printed materials, newsletters and information hotline. Some of the other resources include National Alliance of Family Caregivers, Aphasia Hope Foundation, National Institute of Neurological Disorder Stroke- Aphasia and National Aphasia Communication Tips. All these resources are available online for the access and they all provides required help, guidance, information and communication tips for improving communicati on with people with Aphasia. Hence, it can be concluded from the above discussion that effective communication is needed in order to deal with people having Aphasia. Only a communication that does not make them feel inferior to others can result in positive outcome for such people affected by this disease. References: Best, W., Maxim, J., Heilemann, C., Beckley, F., Johnson, F., Edwards, S. I., ... Beeke, S. (2016). Conversation therapy with people with aphasia and conversation partners using video feedback: A group and case series investigation of changes in interaction.Frontiers in human neuroscience,10, 562. Blom Johansson, M., Carlsson, M., stberg, P., Sonnander, K. (2013). A multiple-case study of a family-oriented intervention practice in the early rehabilitation phase of persons with aphasia.Aphasiology,27(2), 201-226. Carlsson, E., Hartelius, L., Saldert, C. (2014). Communicative strategies used by spouses of individuals with communication disorders related to stroke?induced aphasia and Parkinson's disease.International journal of language communication disorders,49(6), 722-735. de Aguiar, V., Paolazzi, C. L., Miceli, G. (2015). tDCS in post-stroke aphasia: the role of stimulation parameters, behavioral treatment and patient characteristics.Cortex,63, 296-316. Goodglass, H. (2013). Diagnosis of conduction aphasia. InConduction aphasia(pp. 49-60). Psychology Press. Saldert, C., Backman, E., Hartelius, L. (2013). Conversation partner training with spouses of persons with aphasia: A pilot study using a protocol to trace relevant characteristics.Aphasiology,27(3), 271-292.