How to Support Adults After Brain Injury or Stroke – Tools and Strategies for SLPs
When I first met a remarkable client recently—a 70-year-old man recovering from a heart attack and an induced coma—it reminded me of the crucial role we, as speech-language pathologists (SLPs), play in helping individuals regain their communication abilities. This client's journey is inspiring, and it’s the perfect backdrop for discussing practical ways to support adults with brain injuries or strokes, especially in a telepractice setting.
If you’re an SLP thinking about starting your own teletherapy practice, keep reading! I’ll not only share how I approached this client’s case but also how telepractice can transform your career and clients’ lives.
Understanding Communication Challenges After Brain Injury or Stroke
Adults recovering from brain injuries or strokes often experience a range of communication difficulties:
Word-Finding Difficulties: Commonly described as "tip-of-the-tongue" syndrome, they might struggle to find the right word even though they know it. This often leads to "beating around the bush" when speaking.
Decision-Making and Question-Asking Struggles: Simple tasks like choosing an item on a menu or forming questions during a conversation can feel overwhelming.
Conversational Challenges: Group discussions with fast-changing topics can become exhausting and frustrating.
Fatigue: Mental effort to process language or retrieve words can drain energy quickly, emphasizing the need for frequent rest breaks.
My Approach to Assessment in Telepractice
In telepractice, assessments need to be interactive, clear, and flexible to address the client’s specific needs. Here’s my assessment process:
1. Customized Tools
I use an assessment protocol I’ve developed over the years, which includes:
Narrative Tasks: Asking the client to tell a story.
Descriptive Tasks: Showing pictures or videos and asking the client to describe what’s happening.
Sentence Construction: Using a combination of pictures and written words to prompt sentence-building.
2. Interactive Sessions
Sharing my screen and providing visual prompts make the experience engaging and accessible. For example, my 70-year-old client was an excellent reader, so incorporating written prompts became an effective strategy for him.
3. Family Involvement
Having a carer or family member present is often essential. In this case, the client’s son was there, providing support and insight into his daily communication challenges.
Strategies to Support Clients in Recovery
Once the assessment is complete, the focus shifts to supporting the client’s progress. Here are my top strategies:
Simplify Language
Use short, clear sentences.
Avoid overwhelming them with long, complex explanations.
Visual Aids
Incorporate pictures, choice boards, or written prompts to ease the communication process.
Capitalize on the client’s strengths—like reading or comprehension skills—to build confidence.
Encourage Rest Breaks
Fatigue is a significant barrier, so plan sessions with intentional pauses.
Remind clients that progress takes time and rest is part of the recovery process.
Build Confidence Gradually
Start with one-to-one sessions before introducing group settings.
Celebrate small wins, like correctly naming an object or forming a simple sentence.
Why Telepractice is a Game-Changer
As a speech therapist, transitioning to teletherapy back in 2015 was a leap of faith, but it’s been transformative. I’ve worked with clients worldwide, enabling them to regain their voice from the comfort of their homes. Telepractice allows for:
Increased accessibility for clients.
Flexibility for SLPs to build a career aligned with their lifestyle.
Opportunities to incorporate innovative, digital tools for therapy and assessments.
Ready to Start Your Teletherapy Practice?
If this post has inspired you to explore telepractice, I’d love to invite you to my FREE ONLINE WORKSHOP FOR SPEECH THERAPISTS WHO WANT TO BE TELETHERAPISTS.
In this workshop, I’ll guide you through the essential steps to launch your telepractice with confidence. You’ll learn how to overcome common challenges, build a client-centered approach, and set up a successful teletherapy business.
Don’t miss this opportunity to transform your career and empower clients like never before. Whether you’re just starting or looking to refine your skills, this workshop is the perfect next step!
