You can find aphasia-friendly picture books with more tips in our Communication Support Pack.
1. Practise, practise, practise…
The more you practise your communication, the more likely you are to make progress. So take every opportunity you can. If you have dysarthria, keep doing the exercises given by the speech and language therapist.
Perhaps the best thing you can do is to have conversations with friends and family. Let them know what they can do to help the conversation go well. It might help if they speak about one thing at a time, or give you more time to make your point.
Practise speaking, even if you’re embarrassed. The longer you do it, the better you become.
Steve, stroke survivor
2. …but take breaks
Communication can become exhausting, especially to begin with. Don’t push yourself too hard. Listen to your body. If you’re getting tired, take a rest.
Find things you enjoy doing with others where you don’t need to talk so much, such as watching sport or doing gardening. You might find you have more energy at certain times of the day.
3. Be kind to yourself
Some people say they feel stupid when they get words wrong. And the constant struggle to get across what you want to say can be both frustrating and exhausting. It’s a lot to cope with. Be kind to yourself by reminding yourself how hard you’re working and how much you have achieved.
If you’re having a frustrating moment in a conversation, remember you can take a break or try again another time. Some people also say laughing about it can help. Asking others to help with communication is important too.
4. Be up front with people
People are more likely to give you the help and time you need if they know you’ve had a stroke and struggle with speaking. Using a communication card may help.
It’s not always easy to explain, but you’ll usually find people are much more understanding than you think. It’s helpful if your communication card can tell people what you’d like them to do too.
5. Get support
Emotional difficulties, such as low mood or anxiety, are common after a stroke. If you’re finding things difficult, try telling a family member or friend. Read more about emotional changes after stroke.
You can contact our Stroke Support Helpline by phone or email for someone to talk to. If you feel very anxious or have a low mood for a long time, contact your GP who can refer you for help.
6. Connect with others
Try to meet with other people with aphasia. Many people tell us it helps to know they are not alone. Some of the organisations under our list of 'other sources of help and information' run support groups which you could join. You can also look on our website for groups that meet in person or online.
7. Embrace technology
Smartphones and tablets can be useful for people with communication problems and those they’re communicating with. Ask your speech and language therapist for tips, or try The Tavistock Trust’s Aphasia Software Finder.