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Stroke or cerebral vascular accident (CVA) occurs from blockage or rupturing
of a blood vessel within the brain.
Common risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and
smoking. The difficulty resulting from a stroke depends on the area of
the brain affected.
Strokes in the left half of the brain may cause:
- Right hemiparesis- weakness in the right arm and leg.
- Aphasia- a problem in language skills including speaking writing,
reading and listening.
- Dysarthria-a speech problem involving reduced control over muscles
in the face and mouth.
- Apraxia-also a speech problem involving poor motor planning and difficulty
producing words.
- Dysphagia-swallowing difficulty
Strokes in the right side of the brain may cause:
- Left hemiparesis-weakness in the left arm and leg.
- Left Neglect-ignoring the left side of the body or
items on the left.
- Visual-perceptual deficits-difficulty interpreting
what they are seeing.
- Changes in thinking abilities-including
memory, organization, and abstract reasoning.
- Dysarthria (speech change) and Dysphagia (swallowing
difficulty) are also possible.
Treatment by a team of therapists including occupational therapy, physical
therapy, and speech pathology is recommended following a stroke to teach
new ways of doing things, help improve function, and reduce the frustration
these changes may cause.
At HCMC, evaluation and treatment usually begin within the first few days
following a stroke and may continue for several weeks. The therapists will
see the patient while still in the acute part of the hospital. The patient
can continue to receive intensive therapy at HCMC through the Knapp Rehabilitation
Center as an inpatient and as an outpatient through the Multidisciplinary
Outpatient Service Program. The patient will likely also see a neuropsychologist,
recreation therapist and social worker during this time. Psychology services
are also available as part of the team if needed. Follow-up of medical and
rehabilitation needs is completed through the Stroke Clinic for a year after
the stroke.
You can help a person with aphasia communicate by using the following strategies:
- Speak slowly and clearly.
- Use common words and simple sentences but not talking down to the person.
- Ask questions that can be answered with a yes or no.
- Give the person time to understand and to respond.
- Try not to speak for the person unless its necessary.
- Use context to understand made-up words that seem to hold meaning for the
person
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