Stroke

What is a stroke?

A stroke is when the blood flow to the brain is interrupted by a clogged or burst artery. This deprives the brain of the oxygen it needs and causes the affect brain cells to die, resulting in the impairment or loss of the function the body parts they control.

A stroke can result in weakened muscles or paralysis, loss of feeling, issues with speech and language, issues in memory and reasoning, problems with swallowing, vision and visual perception, coma, and even death.

What physical and emotional problems occur after a stroke?

Common warning signs of a stroke include the following:

sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm and/or leg
sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech
sudden difficulty seeing in one or both eyes
sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or loss of coordination
sudden severe headache with no known cause

If you or anyone you know experiences any of the above warning signs, call your doctor or go to an emergency room immediately.

Due to the way our nervous system is set up, an injury to one side of the brain will affect the opposite side of the body, and the victim of a stroke will lose the movement and/or feeling in the arm and/or leg of the opposite side of the brain that was affected by the stroke. This can make it difficult for the survivor of a stroke to perform daily activities, such as tying their shoes, and may also tire easily.

After a stroke, an individual may only be able to see objects in certain parts of their field of vision, and their perception of objects may also change. They may appear to look closer or farther away than they actually are, which can cause the individual to bump into things or spill their drinks. Some may become unaware of their weaker side and ignore or forget about it, which can result in trouble reading when they only see half the page or groom only one side of their body. This one-sided neglect is more common when the right hemisphere of the brain was damaged by the stroke.

Survivors of stroke often exhibit inappropriate emotions, such as laughing when nothing is funny, or mood swings, and will cry for no apparent reason. This is more typical in the early process of recovery.

Stroke survivors may become self-absorbed and may show a very intense need for routine and structure. They can become frustrated when they are unable to communicate effectively which can lead to anger and depression.

What communication problems occur after a stroke?

Some stoke survivors may experience After a stroke, some people experience some loss of speech (aphasia) athat may make communication slightly more difficult. The difficulties in speech depend on the severity and location of the damage.

Deficits in social communication skills (pragmatics) may result in the following:

Difficulty sequencing thoughts together to tell a story
Switching topics without warning, or seeming to “go off on tangents” without informing the listener
Difficulty taking turns in conversation
Problems maintaining a topic of conversation
Trouble using an appropriate tone of voice
Difficulties interpreting the subtleties of conversation (e.g., sarcasm, humor)
Problems “keeping up” with others in a fast-paced interaction
Reacting inappropriately; seeming overemotional (overreacting), impulsive, or “flat” (without emotional affect)
Having little to no self-awareness of inappropriate actions or responses

Strokes can sometimes affect oral motor functioning that may cause the following problems to occur:

Muscles of the lips and tongue may be weaker (dysarthria) or less coordinated (apraxia).
Speech may not be clear.
Breathing muscles may be weaker, affecting the patient’s ability to speak loudly enough to be heard in conversation.

A person may not be able to speak because their muscles are so weak. Because of this, the patient may require augmentative or alternative communication aids (e.g. a communication board) in order to help express ideas.

Weak muscles could also potentially limit the patient’s ability to effectively chew and swallow (dysphagia).

What cognitive problems occur after a stroke?

Cognitive problems are common with stroke victims whose stroke occurred in the right hemisphere, which controls thinking skills, or cognition. Cognitive problems vary depending on the location and seriousness of the damage and may cause the following issues to occur:

Not being aware of their surroundings
Poor attention to tasks
Memory difficulties
Poor reasoning skills
Poor problem solving skills
Poor executive functioning (e.g., goal setting, planning, initiating, self-awareness, self-inhibiting, self-monitoring and evaluation, flexibility of thinking)
Trouble concentrating when there are internal and external distractions (e.g., carrying on a conversation in a noisy restaurant, dividing attention among multiple tasks/demands)
Slower processing of new information
Recent memory is affected in some people, making new learning difficult. For example, some people may have trouble learning the new things they are being taught, such as how to get in and out of their wheelchair safely.

How is a stroke diagnosed?

Medical professionals diagnose a stroke through special tests such as a CT scan or MRI that allow doctors to view the patient’s brain. These can determine the severity and location of the stroke.

In addition to medical professionals, a speech language pathologist can work with the patient and their family to provide a comprehensive evaluation, rehabilitation, and treatment plan. The team may include:

doctors
nurses
neuropsychologists
occupational therapists
physical therapists
social workers
employers/teachers (when applicable)

What other organizations have information about a stroke?

Please be aware that the following list is not comprehensive, and does not necessarily imply endorsement from Premier Therapy Associates as to its content.

See Also:

Call Us: Idaho Falls: 208-529-3562 Rexburg: 208-356-4633

Call Us:
Idaho Falls: 208-529-3562
Rexburg: 208-356-4633