Hello. My 85 yr. old father had a stroke 15 yrs ago. About 5 years ago, the doctor prescribed Zoloft to help with the crying jags and depression. He never recovered his speech other than two or three words and using the letters "IE" for eveything else. In the past year or so, he has started a constand chattering. When it is called to his attention, he can stop for short periods at a time. I was told that his chattering sounds similar to someone on speed.

I am hoping that someone who has cared for a stroke patient might be able to share some information. I take care of my dad alone most days and his constant chattering makes it difficult to spend any time with him.

I've worked in nursing homes as a CNA with stroke patients. They do get very frustrated that they can't communicate with you. What they hear in their brains doesn't come out with what he is actually saying. Maybe you should find a board with words he can point to to help with his frustration and yours. It is difficult, he does understand you, don't mistake that. What you hear is different than the conversation he has going on in his brain. I've had patients who were so frustrated they would get combative. Ask simple questions to start off with, tell him to blink once for "No" and twice for "yes". Stroke patients still have their capacities, but you need to be resilient and understand he's as frustrated as you. I did have a patient who was like that and if I asked her simple questions about the day, and if she was feeling ok, she would nod her head in response, even with the "speed like" chatter. But we would keep eye contact so she knew I was interested in what she had to say, and she would smile when I asked those simple questions and she'd answer almost in relief that someone could hear her.