How Speech Therapy Can Help with Dysphasia
Whether dysphasia comes on suddenly such as after a stroke or develops gradually due to a neurological condition, speech pathology plays a crucial role in helping people regain their communication skills and confidence.
Dysphasia is typically diagnosed through a combination of medical and speech-language assessments. A doctor may conduct neurological exams and order brain imaging (such as an MRI or CT scan) to determine the cause and location of the damage. A Speech Pathologist plays a central role in the diagnosis and treatment of dysphasia, along with education, counselling and research. The Speech Pathologist will identify the specific subtype or features of a person’s dysphasia and develop a treatment plan with the individual and their family.
A person’s recovery journey is dependent on several factors, such as the initial dysphasia severity, the extent and location of the damage, and social factors such as isolation and post-stroke depression 1. The Speech Pathologist may work in tandem with other health professionals, such as Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists to provide holistic care for the patient and their family.
The goals of dysphasia treatment should always be generated collaboratively with the individual and their family, whilst taking into account the most up-to-date evidence. Other factors, such as a person’s cultural and linguistic background, also need to be considered 2.
At Talkshop Speech Pathology, we tailor our speech therapy to suit the unique needs of each individual. Our approach combines skill-building, strategy development, and emotional support to help clients reconnect with others and express themselves more effectively.
Comprehensive Assessment
We start with a thorough evaluation of speech, understanding, reading, and writing abilities. This helps us create a clear and realistic therapy plan.
Personalised, Evidence-Based Speech Therapy Goals
Common evidence-based speech therapy approaches may include:
Semantic Feature Analysis (SFA) — SFA supports a person having word-finding difficulties. The individual identifies important features of a target word that is difficult to retrieve, thereby making it more efficient to retrieve words.
Script Training — Script training involves developing scripts (understanding, remembering, and recalling event sequences of an activity) to facilitate participation in personally relevant activities, such as ordering at a restaurant.
Alternative or Augmentative Communication (AAC) – The speech pathologist may recommend AAC, such as picture-based communication boards or apps or devices that generate speech.
Family and Communication Partner Training
We offer practical tips and strategies to help family members support communication at home. These may include strategies such as giving the person more time to respond, using short, simple sentences and writing down relevant words and concepts to support the person’s understanding. Creating a patient, low-pressure environment can make a big difference in everyday interactions.
Confidence and Connection
Our goal isn’t just to build language skills—it’s to restore a sense of identity, self-worth, and connection. We celebrate every win.
Dysphasia is a difficult diagnosis and can have significant impacts on a person’s quality of life 2. At Talkshop, we believe in a holistic, person-centred approach that focuses on building confidence and creating functional ways to communicate and connect with others. We’re here to support you every step of the way. Our experienced speech pathologists will work with you to create an individually-tailored assessment and treatment plan that prioritises meaningful goals.
Interested in finding out more? Talk to a speech pathologist to see how speech therapy can help. Give us a call at (02) 7209 3838 or book a free initial consultation at Talkshop Speech Pathology.
