The Daily Bulletin

May is National Speech-Language-Hearing Month. How many of you know that speech-language pathologists treat language disorders in adults as well as in children? Almost 2.5 million people acquire a brain injury such as a stroke or traumatic brain injury (TBI) or a degenerative process like dementia every year in the United States. These can lead to language disorders.

A stroke in the left hemisphere of the brain often causes aphasia, a loss of language, but importantly, not intellect. People with aphasia know what they want to say but have trouble finding words, reading, and communicating through speech and writing. This makes communicating their ideas difficult. Primary progressive aphasia is different from stroke-related aphasia in that it eventually leads to dementia.

A stroke in the right hemisphere can lead to difficulties understanding figurative language, including jokes, and misinterpreting the tone of language. Sarcasm might sound like sincerity to a person with damage to the right hemisphere. TBIs can be caused by car crashes, concussions, or other injuries. Language, particularly retrieving words, speech clarity, and cognitive skills, for example, processing time, memory, and attention, can all be affected.

The Buffalo State Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic can evaluate and treat all these disorders. The plan is to assess clients’ needs and personal objectives with them and their families, and design a personalized treatment program to make clients the best communicators they can be.