Q. My friend had a stroke and her communication is affected. I can tell she knows what she wants to say, but she speaks very slowly or at times is unable to get the words out. The communication challenges are frustrating for both of us. I feel bad for her. Is there something I can do to help her along in this journey?
A. The most important thing is to keep your friendship fresh and alive through companionship. It’s easy to focus on the negative rather than the positive in this case. You probably want to complete every sentence for her. You can interact with your friend in different forms that doen’t always involve talking! The Aphasia Now support group has great ideas on how to interact with friends and loved ones. Introducing craft and art projects into your relationship is just one form of communication. Human touch is another powerful non-verbal way of communicating. Consider giving your friend a light hand massage with her favorite scented lotion. If that is not something that you can do together, their website (aphasianow.org) suggests some practical communication tips to use when interacting with those we love. First and foremost, patience is the key. Remember, your friend is just as frustrated as you are, if not more. Speak slowly and clearly, communicating one idea at a time. Make sure you don’t speak childishly to your friend. Try not to rush the conversation and use straightforward language. Use yes/no questions whenever possible and make sure that you affirm your friend throughout the process. Consider using a white board and dry erase marker or a simple pad of paper and pen to write messages back and forth. It is important to learn new ways to communicate with each other. Your friend may feel a loss of self-esteem, and your friendship will most likely be very important to her now more than ever.
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