Left Side Stroke, Expressive Aphasia - Stroke Message Board

lpisarski · 02-18-2004, 07:03 PM

My mom had a stroke on 1/14/04. She had just recovered from knee replacement on 12/23/03. The stroke was considered a small stroke on the left of the brain. She was in the hospital for a week and then acute rehab for 10 days. She now lives in an assisted living place.

My question: Mom has expressive aphasia. It's not that bad, however, sometimes she just can't get the words out that she wants to say. This frustrates her to no end because she knows what the words are that she wants to say. How long does the expressive aphasia usually last?

2nd question: She seems to have problems with reciting some numbers, doing some basic math and saying numbers. How long will this last? She did go to the store the other day and the bill came to $67 and she handed the clerk 4 $20's. I was happy about that.

What can I do to help her work through this?

BBuzz · 02-28-2004, 10:32 PM

Your mom is haveing the same problem as me... I;m only 47. on the 16 of February I think I had a mini stroke... I have an appointment mid March with my Hearth Doctor. I also would like to know what Expressive Aphasia is all about. I noticed the other day when talking to my boss I just could not get the words out like I used to....just now I noticed I have to keep back-spacing just to type the right word. I have just started to read about strokes and I am really over wemmed with all the inforation there there is about strokes. When I read about your problem you helped me look into another area of strokes... thanks and if you learned anything new... please post..

Sincerly,
Bzz

mandy5149 · 03-05-2004, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lpisarski

My mom had a stroke on 1/14/04. She had just recovered from knee replacement on 12/23/03. The stroke was considered a small stroke on the left of the brain. She was in the hospital for a week and then acute rehab for 10 days. She now lives in an assisted living place.

My question: Mom has expressive aphasia. It's not that bad, however, sometimes she just can't get the words out that she wants to say. This frustrates her to no end because she knows what the words are that she wants to say. How long does the expressive aphasia usually last?

2nd question: She seems to have problems with reciting some numbers, doing some basic math and saying numbers. How long will this last? She did go to the store the other day and the bill came to $67 and she handed the clerk 4 $20's. I was happy about that.

What can I do to help her work through this?

I am going through the same thing with my husband. Just don't let her get lazy about trying to express herself. If you can help her figure out the word she wants....have her repeat it after you. The numbers will come back....the other part of the brain is learning to take over for the damaged part. Hang in there.... family support is the best thing in her favor.

Katyana · 03-10-2004, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lpisarski

My mom had a stroke on 1/14/04. She had just recovered from knee replacement on 12/23/03. The stroke was considered a small stroke on the left of the brain. She was in the hospital for a week and then acute rehab for 10 days. She now lives in an assisted living place.

My question: Mom has expressive aphasia. It's not that bad, however, sometimes she just can't get the words out that she wants to say. This frustrates her to no end because she knows what the words are that she wants to say. How long does the expressive aphasia usually last?

2nd question: She seems to have problems with reciting some numbers, doing some basic math and saying numbers. How long will this last? She did go to the store the other day and the bill came to $67 and she handed the clerk 4 $20's. I was happy about that.

What can I do to help her work through this?

The left side of the brain holds the language center and that is the area of the brain that was affected by your mothers brain attack.

How long before she recovers? Hard to say. Each person is different. Sometimes the damage is minimal and there are no residual effects in time, and sometimes the damage is permanent. There could be some improvement with some minor residual effects left over, or no improvement at all.

As another poster mentioned, the right side of the brain can learn, and it's important that your mother have speach therapy and do reading exercises in order to facilitate that learning.

I wish you and your mom the very best : )

balegoba1966 · 05-09-2004, 07:01 PM

The neuro-psychologist that debriefed my family said that the brain functions something like this:

There is a place that "thinks" the words someone wants to say.

There is a second place that orders the muscles to form the words one wants to say.

The two zones are connected by "white matter", which are the communication pathways. These have been damaged, either killed or are temporarily toxified by the blood that got loose in the brain. If killed, the brain can, over time, form new pathways. If toxified, but not killed, time may detoxify them.

She said the best thing to form new pathways is physical exercise to the extent possible.