14 Tips for Easy Communicating With People Who Have Dysphasia

Dysphasia is a condition that affects the brain and the ability to process, and in some cases, understand language. The condition can be temporary or long-lasting, and the most common cause is a stroke, although some cases of dysphasia can be caused by a brain injury, a tumor, a neurological problem.

Dysphasia can be temporary, and even migraine sufferers can find that they are unable to speak properly for a few hours. It is estimated that over a million Americans struggle with dysphasia and many more develop the condition every year.

Communicating with friends and loved ones who have dysphasia is a challenge, and it is hard to pick up techniques over time. Some dysphasia sufferers prefer to use technology to help them speak and understand, whereas others prefer to regain their ability to communicate naturally.

Although communication can be tricky, the tips listed below can make the process easier.

1. Speak Slowly

People who suffer from dysphasia may speak more slowly because of their condition, but it may or may not be necessary to speak more slowly to them so you can be understood. Although many cases of dysphasia do not involve difficulty understanding and may be confined to speech issues, it is a good idea to check first.

Ask slowly if the person can understand you well when you speak at a regular speed and volume. If they indicate that you need to slow down, by all means do. Even if the person does not have an impairment regarding understanding speech at a regular speech, you may, without being too obvious, slow down your speaking to make the other person less self-conscious about their speaking difficulty.

If you are accustomed to speaking quickly, it may take some practice to speak more slowly, but it can be done if you take a breath and slow down.