An Injury such as a stroke can damage the language center of the brain, and sometimes people who experience a stroke have difficulty speaking afterward. Fortunately, speech therapy can encourage the brain to rewire itself, improving one’s ability to communicate after a stroke. These exercises are designed to help patients overcome a speech impairment.

How Can You Regain the Ability to Communicate After a Stroke?

1. Read Aloud 

Some patients have difficulty understanding words when reading after a stroke, so reading aloud can encourage the brain to reactivate your language skills. It also allows you to practice speaking again. Start with a few sentences, and be patient with yourself if you experience difficulty. Listening to audiobooks or following the closed captions during a television show can also re-expose you to words, making it easier to produce those words in writing or speech.

2. Play Word Games

Speech therapy doesn’t have to be a chore, and you can do it on your own by participating in word games such as crossword puzzles or word searches. Word games help you strengthen your language processing skills, especially if you read aloud while doing them. You can also use picture cards to quiz yourself on word recognition. Look at images and say the word the picture depicts. This activity also encourages visual processing and comprehension.

3. Exercise Your Tongue 

It’s essential to strengthen your tongue muscle to make speech easier after a stroke. Typical exercises include moving your tongue from one side of your mouth, holding for a few seconds, moving it to the opposite side, and repeating. Another repetitious exercise involves sticking your tongue out, holding it for a few seconds, and then holding it inside your mouth for a few seconds. These exercises also strengthen neural pathways and improve muscle memory.

If you or a loved one has experienced a stroke, Englewood Health Care Center in Monroeville, AL, offers speech therapy at its rehabilitation center. The assisted living facility has the well-being of its residents in mind, supporting them to regain their independence. Call (251) 575-3285 or visit their website to learn more about their physical, occupational, and speech therapy programs.