Speech and Language therapy - Question 1
Q: My husband is going to be given speech and language therapy. How much should he be getting and how long will it need to carry on for?
A: This will depend on the type and severity of the problem. The amount of therapy needed will also be affected by how much tolerance and concentration power your husband has. In the early days after a stroke people can often manage only a few minutes of therapy before they lose attention or need sleep. At this stage, frequent short sessions are best. Later, as his concentration improves, so can the length of the treatments. If your husband has a significant dysphasia that has developed within the last three months, he should probably have therapy at least three times a week for up to three months after it began. After that time it may be appropriate to continue at that sort of intensity or, if his progress is very slow, to reduce the frequency. Language seems to improve at a different rate from that of some of the other impairments such as movement. It is slower to start showing improvement but carries on for longer - people sometimes continue to make progress two to three years after the stroke. Recovering from dysphasia is a long, laborious process. It is almost as frustrating for the carers as for the individual. The important thing is not to give up and to keep learning together. Many areas have self-help groups for people with dysphasia where they and their carers can meet to socialise and help each other solve problems. The Stroke Association or Speakability usually organise these.
