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Approaches to Stroke Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation of Speech-Language Disorders after Stroke
Dysarthria is defined as "slurred speech." Dysarthric patients present with consistent errors in articulation, decreased normal resonance or phonation, or problems with volume or breath control. Therapy generally focuses on teaching compensatory strategies and self-correction of errors. Exercises of the lips, tongue, cheek, and throat muscles may improve speech support. Facilitation techniques are thought to recruit right-hemisphere areas which enhance verbal output. Alternative communication techniques and augmentative communication devices may be used as long as apraxia and comprehension deficits do not interfere with their use. Therapy may not be able to restore complex neurologic associations to process language symbols, but may be able to maximize abilities through compensatory strategies. Family education is essential to increase the awareness of the deficits and discuss prognosis.
