Stroke & Language Loss

Stroke victims can either suffer a minor or major stroke. A stroke at either level can affect speech and language understanding. It's important to educate yourself on stroke symptoms so that if you observe any of these, you can be sure to seek prompt medical attention.

Identification

• Often an individual will have a minor stroke and have no idea that it happened. A change in speech and thought process is a common sign of a stroke. Usually stroke victims will develop a sudden speech impediment, have difficulty sharing congruent thoughts or following a conversation, or will display emotions that don't correlate with the subject matter within a conversation.

The Facts

• The effects that a stroke can have on language is called aphasia. When the left side of the brain is damaged, an individuals speech, reading, writing and listening abilities are likely to be compromised. Usually, when the right side of the brain is damaged, other factors besides speech are affected. If the right side of the brain is affected by a stroke, the stroke is usually considered to be severe or life threatening.

Solution

• The best way to identify if a person has had a stroke is to take them to a medical professional as quickly as possible. Some signs of stroke include substantial numbness, confusion, difficulty swallowing, trouble walking, coordination loss and vision impairment.