For Adult Patient and Carers

Expressive and Receptive Language Difficulties

Dysphasia is an impairment of language affecting:

• Verbal expression (speaking) including word finding or naming difficulties, word substitutions, sound substitutions, jargon (meaningless words), verbal perseveration (saying the same word or phrase repeatedly), and circumlocution (talking around the target word)
  
• Written expression (writing) including difficulties with letter selection and formation, spelling & sentence formulation
  
• Auditory comprehension (listening & understanding) involving a breakdown of understanding of sounds, words, sentences, conversation, radio, TV or speeches
  
• Reading comprehension (reading) not a pure visual problem, but involving a breakdown of ability to understand letters, words, sentences, and things like cards, labels, signs, letters, bills, newspapers and books. 

Strategies to help with language difficulties

To help with Understanding the listener can

• Speak in short sentences
• Use simple language
• Speak slowly
• Give the person extra time to answer
• Ask yes/no questions
• Speak in your normal adult voice
• Speak at a normal volume
• Repeat your message or say it another way if needed
• Focus on the important words in your message

To help with communication the speaker can:

• Try to think of another word with a similar meaning, eg. Watch - clock
• Use gesture, pointing or facial expression in place of the word
• Don't rush your speech
• Talk for yourself-try not to let others talk for you
• Try to imagine and describe the word you are thinking of
• its use or function
• size/shape
• color
• similar objects
• what it looks like
• where it comes from
• Don't spend much time trying to think of the exact word. Leave it and come back to it later
• Reduce distractions when talking to others. eg. Turn off the T.V
• Write down some words that you often get "stuck" on, eg. Family names, suburbs etc.-and refer to these when needed
• Getting your message across is the most important thing - It doesn't matter how you communicate!

For more specific recommendations relating to you current difficulties, please contact a Speech Pathologist for an assessment.

 

How to Refer

Click on the following link for details  how to refer 

 

Links

Click on the following useful links  for listing of relevant websites.

 

 

Western Health Speech Pathology
Information for Adult Patient and Carers

What do Speech Pathologists do?

Speech Pathologists assist people who have difficulties with communication and swallowing caused by illness, injury or developmental conditions.

Speech Pathologists provide detailed, specialist assessment
and management of:

Swallowing difficulties

Dysphagia or swallowing difficulty can be caused by structural changes or neurological conditions (eg. dementia, Motor
Neurone Disease or Parkinson's disease).

Swallowing difficulties are sometimes seen in elderly people with no specific neurological condition.

Left unmanaged, dysphagia can lead to choking or food and
fluid entering the airway resulting in serious illness
(pneumonia).

Speech Pathologists may conduct videofluoroscopies (an x-ray
of swallowing) as a diagnostic tool to objectively assess and
manage swallowing difficulties

Signs of dysphagia and strategies to help

Dysphagia can cause difficulty with swallowing food, drink
or medications. You may notice coughing, discomfort or
changes to the sound of your voice after swallowing. To
help with swallowing difficulty:

• Ensure you are fully awake to eat and drink
• Ensure you are Upright (90° eg sitting at a table) to eat
  and drink
• Do not talk and eat at the same time
• Minimise distractions e.g. turn off TV
• Remain upright for 20 minutes after your meal or drink

For more specific recommendations relating to you current difficulties, please contact a Speech Pathologist for an assessment.

Speech difficulties

Dysarthria is a speech difficulty caused by weakness of the muscles as a result of damage to the brain or nerves.
The speech can sound slurred, unclear or slow. 

Dyspraxia is a difficulty performing a coordinated movement voluntarily despite intact muscle strength. It can affect the limbs or speech. Verbal Dyspraxia can be frustrating and
sound effortful as the speaker tries to correct inconsistent
speech errors.

Strategies to help with speech difficulties

• Face the person you are speaking to
• Reduce distractions (eg. turn off TV/radio)
• Speak slowly and clearly 
• Use gesture (eg. pointing)
• Spell keywords out
• Use another word with a similar meaning
• If all else fails, then try writing the message down

For more specific recommendations relating to you current difficulties, please contact a Speech Pathologist for an assessment.