exercised for speech, much as the legs are conditioned for walking or running.
Incorporating detailed real-time events into the conversation is also beneficial, such as discussing the weather or asking the patient to describe an item of clothing they are wearing.
Reading to the patient helps restore comprehension, especially when asking simple questions about the story to strengthen recall ability. Practice writing exercises by writing a sentence with a missing word for them to complete, or words with missing letters. Study a recipe, and the ordered steps of how the recipe becomes a dish.
Environmental factors to consider during the recovery phase include making sure the space where rehabilitation is taking place remains quiet and free of distraction.
It’s important to always face the patient when speaking to them so they can clearly understand what is being communicated, and be clear when a topic of conversation has changed. Do not speak over the patient, and make sure only one person is speaking at a time to avoid confusion.
Be conscious of moments when the patient might be tired of using the part of their brain to recall language, and switch to art therapy. One method popular among many art classes is a collaborative game called Exquisite Corpse, where two or more people add to a sequential composition.
The person who draws first folds their drawing over so the next person can’t see what they drew, but they follow the same instructions to draw a section and fold it over so the next person can continue the process. It often results in a fun and interesting creation of different styles in the same drawing, and enhances the sense of community and much-needed support.