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Speech Pathologist Nursing Home Activities for Aphasia

Aphasia is an acquired language disorder that is caused by lesions or damage to the brain's language center. It can be caused by a stroke, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, brain injury or tumor, epilepsy or migraines. Aphasia may affect a person's ability to speak, read or write. A patient may be able to read but not write, or speak but not read, or any combination of the three aspects of language. Following conversations can also be difficult. Therapies that strengthen weakened muscles and encourage practice of speech, reading and writing are effective treatments.

  1. Exercise

    • Aphasia usually includes weakness in the right side of the body. Exercising can increase strength and help to treat the speech pathology as well. Repeating words and even opening and closing the jaw repeatedly works the facial muscles needed for speech. So does eating. Try blowing bubbles or playing a harmonica for a fun way to exercise the oral-motor muscles. Drinking from a straw also engages the muscles necessary for speech.

    Engaging Speech

    • Patients who suffer aphasia need to speak in order to recover. Finding ways to encourage them to engage in speech can be a challenge. Focus on meaningful words and accept any variation on a word that indicates the patient has made a connection with an object and is attempting speech. Try to engage your patient in speech that interests them and even excites them. Have them help to plan a party, with each person required to tell the group what their favorite food is so that it can be served. Encourage them to talk about things that matter to them, such as people or places that are parts of their lives.

    Reading and Writing

    • Aphasia can affect reading and writing as well as speech. Workbooks that require both reading and writing are effective tools to recovery. Books with games that encourage patients to fill in blanks with nouns, verbs or adjectives can encourage participation. Allow block printing first; script writing will come later. Encourage patients to read aloud, which will help with both reading and speech.

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