Speech Therapy After Stroke
A stroke can affect communication, speech, thinking skills and swallowing. Speech pathologists play an important role in helping people recover communication skills and maintain independence after a stroke. At Sound Abilities Speech Pathology, we provide speech therapy for adults following stroke across Bribie Island, Moreton Bay, and North Brisbane.
Communication Changes After Stroke
Stroke can affect communication in several ways.
Aphasia
Aphasia affects a person’s ability to understand or express language. People with aphasia may have difficulty:
Dysarthria
Dysarthria occurs when the muscles used for speech become weaker or less coordinated, making speech slurred or difficult to understand.
Cognitive Communication Changes
Stroke can also affect thinking skills that support communication, such as:
How Speech Therapy Helps
Speech therapy after stroke focuses on helping people rebuild communication skills and develop strategies to support everyday conversations.
Therapy may include:
Swallowing Difficulties After Stroke
Some people also experience swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) after a stroke. Speech pathologists can assess swallowing and recommend strategies to help people eat and drink safely.
Person-Centred Therapy
Every stroke recovery journey is different. Therapy is tailored to each person’s goals, focusing on functional communication that supports independence, relationships and participation in daily life.
Aphasia affects a person’s ability to understand or express language. People with aphasia may have difficulty:
- finding words
- understanding spoken language
- reading or writing
- participating in conversations
Dysarthria
Dysarthria occurs when the muscles used for speech become weaker or less coordinated, making speech slurred or difficult to understand.
Cognitive Communication Changes
Stroke can also affect thinking skills that support communication, such as:
- attention
- memory
- problem solving
- organisation of ideas
How Speech Therapy Helps
Speech therapy after stroke focuses on helping people rebuild communication skills and develop strategies to support everyday conversations.
Therapy may include:
- word-finding strategies
- conversation practice
- speech clarity exercises
- communication strategies for families
- reading and writing support
- cognitive communication strategies
Swallowing Difficulties After Stroke
Some people also experience swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) after a stroke. Speech pathologists can assess swallowing and recommend strategies to help people eat and drink safely.
Person-Centred Therapy
Every stroke recovery journey is different. Therapy is tailored to each person’s goals, focusing on functional communication that supports independence, relationships and participation in daily life.