communication exercises - American Stroke Association

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Naming Functional Objects
1. In the morning, I got up and took a _____________________________.
2. Where do you find one?
3. Why do you use it?
4. When do you use it?
5. Pretend you are using it.
Naming Functional Objects
1. Turn on the bathroom __________________.
2. Where do you find it?
3. How do you use it?
4. What do you do with it?
5. Pretend you are using it.
When somebody with aphasia gets stuck on a particular word, it is important to try
to “talk around” the word and focus on descriptive words and gestures to help facilitate
communication. The word itself isn't as important as the act of trying to talk about the
word describing things like function, attributes and location. Speech therapy works by
creating new neurological pathways or “detours” around the damaged area in the brain
to retrieve a desired word.
For Functional Picture Naming, the objective is for the person with aphasia to
name the item in the photograph. If they have trouble, use the carrier phrases below each
picture. The questions below each photo are designed to help form new pathways to
increase expressive language. Finding other ways to describe an item by function, or
using a gesture, helps work around the area of the brain that was damaged. Try having
your partner write the name of the picture. If your partner is unable to name or answer
any of the questions about the photo, write the name of the picture on an index card and
place it below the picture. Have them read it with the picture. Then, practice reading the
words with the pictures and gradually remove the written cue once they are able to read
the name with the photograph on a consistent basis.
The new Speech Therapy Aphasia Rehabilitation STAR Workbook was
designed for caregivers and stroke survivors to use at home. It contains many more tips
and exercises targeting expressive and written language.
To order aphasia workbook go to:: http://www.amazon.com/Speech-Therapy-Aphasia-RehabilitationWorkbook/dp/1492239461/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383659967&sr=8-1&keywords=aphasia+workbook