A stroke survivor is likely to experience many physical changes, including:
- Changes in Swallowing
- Changes in Communication
- Changes in Movement
- Changes in Vision and Perception
- Changes in Bladder and Bowel Habits
Changes in Swallowing
Dysphagia
Any problem or difficulty with swallowing. This may be an oral or pharyngeal
problem.
Symptoms include throat clearing, coughing, choking, multiple swallows with each bite or sip,
loss of food from mouth during meal times, complaints of feeling food is “stuck” in the throat, pain
during swallowing, wet vocal quality, dehydration, weight loss and temperature spike.
Aspiration
Entrance of food or liquid into the patient’s airway and infiltration into the lungs.
Studies have shown that 60 percent of patients with dysphagia are silent aspirators, showing no
overt signs or symptoms of aspiration.
Video oropharyngeal swallow study is a swallow assessment completed in the radiology
department. The patient is given bites and sips of different consistencies of barium. The radiologist
and speech pathologist actually see the swallowing mechanism and make recommendations
based on results.
Treatment/compensatory techniques:
- Patients to be upright 90 degrees for meals
- Small bites or sips
- Tongue or finger sweeps through mouth to clear pocketing
- Verbal cues to “tongue sweep” or tactile pressure cues to the patient’s cheek
- Checking and cleaning the patient’s mouth after each meal
- Patient to remain upright for 30 minutes after meals (to clear oral or pharyngeal residue)
- Alternate solid bites and liquid sips to clear pocketing in the mouth or residue in the throat
- Swallowing multiple times per bite or sip
- Thickening liquids to slow the rate of travel to the throat
- Oral motor or pharyngeal exercises given by speech therapist
- Thermal stimulation given by speech therapist
- VitalStim therapy given by speech therapist
Oral care is an important part of the equation for patients with dysphagia and should be
performed after all meals or more as indicated by staff. Ice chips, ice cream and Jell-O are
considered thin liquids.
Changes in Communication
Dysarthria
Dysarthria is an impairment of motor control for speech caused by weakness, paralysis, slowness,
lack of coordination or sensory loss in the muscle groups responsible for speech.
Symptoms include:
- “Slurred” speech
- Speaking softly or barely able to whisper
- Slow rate of speech
- Rapid rate of speech with a “mumbling” quality
- Limited tongue, lip and jaw movement
- Abnormal intonation (rhythm) when speaking
- Changes in vocal quality (“nasal” speech or sounding “stuffy”)
- Hoarseness
- Breathiness
- Drooling or poor control of saliva
- Chewing and swallowing difficulty
Treatment:
Treatment depends on the cause, type and severity of the symptoms. A speech-language
pathologist works with the individual to improve communication abilities. Goals may include
slowing the rate of speech; improving breath support so the person can speak more loudly;
muscle-strengthening exercises; increasing mouth, tongue and lip movement; or improving
articulation so that speech is clearer.
The speech-language pathologist can also help the person’s caregivers or family learn to adapt
the environment so that they can understand the person better and teach compensatory strategies
to enhance communication.
In cases of severe dysarthria, it may be impossible for the person
to speak intelligibly; an alternative means of communication may be needed. These range from
using simple gestures or alphabet boards to more sophisticated electronic or computer-based
equipment. If chewing and swallowing problems exist, the speech-language pathologist can
address these areas as well.
Tips for the Listener:
- Control the communication environment by reducing distractions.
- Pay attention to the patient and watch them as they talk.
- Be honest and let the patient know when you have difficulty understanding them.
- Repeat the part of the message that you understood so that the patient does not have to repeat the entire message.
- If you’re unable to understand the message after repeated attempts, ask yes-or-no questions or
have the patient write the message out for you.
- Encourage one word at a time with severe dysarthria.
- Cue the patient to “slow down” and “over-exaggerate” each word.
- Limit conversation when patient is extremely tired or fatigued.
- Encourage patient to use gestures or pointing with speech to convey message.
Apraxia
Apraxia is an impairment of motor planning for the movements for speech so that the voluntary
control for speech is disrupted.
It’s characterized by problems sequencing the sounds in
syllables and words. It varies in severity depending on the nature of the damage to the nervous
system. People with apraxia know what words they want to say, but their brains have difficulty
coordinating the muscle movements necessary to say those words. They may say something
completely different, even nonsensical. For example, a person may try to say “kitchen,” but it may
come out “bipem.” The person will recognize the error and try again. Sometimes they’ll get it
right or say something else entirely. This can frustrate the person.
Signs of Apraxia:
- Difficulty imitating speech sounds
- Possible difficulty imitating non-speech movements, such as sticking out their tongue (oral
apraxia)
- Groping for sounds
- In severe cases, an inability to produce sound at all
- Inconsistent errors
- Slow rate of speech
- Somewhat preserved ability to produce “automatic speech,” such as greetings like “How are
you?”
- Can occur in conjunction with dysarthria (muscle weakness affecting speech production) or
aphasia (language difficulties related to neurological damage)
Treatment:
A speech-language pathologist works with people with apraxia to improve speech abilities and
overall communication skills. The muscles of speech often need to be retrained to produce sounds
correctly and sequence sounds into words. This occurs through exercises designed to allow the person to repeat sounds over and over and practice correct mouth movements for sounds. The
person with apraxia may need to slow their speech rate down or work on pacing their speech so
they can produce all of the sounds necessary for their message. In severe cases, alternative means
of communication may be necessary, such as the use of simple gestures or more sophisticated
electronic equipment.
Aphasia
Aphasia is the partial or total loss of the ability to articulate ideas or comprehend spoken or
written language, resulting from damage to the brain caused by injury or disease. It most
commonly affects the left side of the brain where the language center is located.
Signs of Aphasia:
- Difficulty understanding spoken words and following a conversation
- Difficulty expressing words or ideas verbally
- An inability to name objects or to recognize the written or spoken names of objects; this
condition is known as anomia.
- Difficulty expressing ideas in writing
- Difficulty with reading comprehension
- Difficulty performing mathematical calculation
- Use of jargon or nonsense words
- Persistent repetition of certain words or phrases; this condition is referred to as perseveration.
Strategies to Help a Person with Aphasia:
- When speaking, make sure the patient is looking at you.
- Use simple, brief words, phrases and sentences when speaking to the patient.
- Speak slowly.
- Repeat or rephrase as needed.
- Ask one question at a time.
- One person should talk at a time.
- Use nonverbal communication (pointing, gestures, facial expressions, tone of voice, body
language) when trying to convey messages.
- Ask simple yes-or-no questions to verify understanding.
- Use questions to confirm patient’s verbalizations. “Are you saying that you want a drink of
water?”
- Include the person in conversations.
- Speak directly to the patient with aphasia and alert them to changes in topic.
- Use topics in conversation that are familiar.
- Use greetings and social talk to provide opportunities to speak. “Hello. How are you?”
- Ask questions that give choices when possible. “Do you want milk or juice?”
- Give the patient extra time to respond.
- Encourage the patient.
- Encourage multi-modality communication: gesturing, writing, drawing, use of communication
board as well as talking.
- Acknowledge communication attempts, even when you do not understand.
- Do not pretend to understand the patient when you do not.
Changes in Vision and Perception
Stroke can cause different visual changes in the patient depending on the location of the stroke.
After a stroke, the changes in vision are usually caused by either weakness of the eye muscles or
a condition affecting the way the brain perceives information submitted through the visual system.
There’s nothing wrong with the eye itself.
Some of the common visual changes are:
- Hemianopsia (visual field cut). Patient loses vision on either the left or right side.
- Double vision. Patient sees two of everything. This is occasionally corrected by patching
one eye.
- Homonymous hemianopsia. Loss of half of the visual field in the same side of both eyes.
- Difficulty in depth and perception
- Neglect; decreased awareness of one side
Due to these changes in vision, patients may have difficulty with all aspects of daily life including
mobility, reading, personal grooming and so on.
Changes in Sensation
Stroke patients may lose the ability to feel the difference between hot and cold, sharp and dull or
the ability to feel or know what position the joints of the leg and arm are in. Patients occasionally
might become hypersensitive or constantly feel “pins-and-needles” sensation.
It’s common to lose sensation but still be able to move the extremity or vice versa. This is because
different parts of the brain control sensation and motor movement.
- Some things family and friends can do to help are:
Make the patient more aware of that arm or leg by either making the patient touch it and look
at it.
- Remind the patient to check the arm or leg visually and repeatedly so that it doesn’t become
injured because the patient will not feel it.
- Check the temperature of water for bathing.
- Wear braces as prescribed by your physical or occupational therapist.
Changes in Movement
- Paralysis—No purposeful movement in the leg or the arm
- Ataxia—Uncoordinated, non-purposeful movements
- Spasticity—Increased tone or contractions of muscles, causing stiff or awkward movements
Changes in Bowel and Bladder Functions
Problems with bladder and bowel function are common but distressing for stroke survivors. “Going to the bathroom” after suffering a stroke may be complicated by:
- Urinary incontinence—being unable to control your urination
- Urinary retention—trouble urinating or not completely emptying your bladder
- Constipation—being unable to have a regular bowel movement
- Bowel incontinence—being unable to control your release of stool
These issues occur when stroke has damaged the part of the brain that controls waste removal or
the brain signals for it. In some cases, an infection or other issue maybe the problem.
Urinary Incontinence
Soon after stroke, many survivors need to use a small flexible tube, called a catheter, to urinate.
When they improve, the catheter is removed and they begin a regular urination pattern again.
Most stroke survivors do regain control of their bladders and urinate normally. Others continue to
suffer from urinary incontinence and are unable to control their urination.
Treatments:
Treatments vary depending on the cause of your problem. Some feel the urge to urinate but
cannot hold it until they reach the bathroom.
Some tips that may help:
- Go to the bathroom at regular times to help train your bladder. Urinating every 2-3 hours— whether you feel the urge or not—can help prevent accidents.
- Get help from others as soon as you feel the urge to urinate. They may be able to get you to
the bathroom in time.
- Drink plenty of fluids during the day and limit them in the evening. This will reduce the number of times you have to go to the bathroom at night.
- Limit caffeine and alcohol at night.
- Ask your physical therapist to help you strengthen the muscles around your bladder. Pelvic floor
muscle exercises, called Kegel exercises, may help.
Urinary Retention
Also common among stroke survivors is urinary retention. This is when you do not completely
empty your bladder. If untreated, it can lead to bladder stones, reflux (reverse flow of urine back
to the kidneys) or a urinary tract infection (UTI). A UTI needs immediate treatment, so see your
doctor as soon as you notice symptoms.
UTI symptoms include:
- Urine with a bad smell, cloudiness , blood or sediment (solid deposits)
- Burning when urinating or around a catheter
- Fever and chills
- Cramps in lower abdomen or side
- Pain in lower back
- Frequent urination or feeling like you have to go to the bathroom even though your bladder is empty
Treatments:
Special treatments may be needed for conditions that cause urine retention. In these cases, your
doctor may prescribe a drug such as Ditropan®, Levsin® or Cystospaz®. Inform your doctor of
other drugs you are taking, because they may be the cause of your urinary-retention.
You may still have problems, despite all attempts to correct. Use a catheter if needed. Ask your doctor which type is best for you. Try panty liners, waterproof underpants or disposable adult diapers. Be sure to carefully
clean and lubricate the urinary area to avoid skin irritations. Also, drink plenty of water to
dilute your urine.
Constipation and Bowel Incontinence
Constipation and bowel incontinence is involuntary release of stool and may result from:
- Reduced fluid intake
- Diet
- Not moving around enough
- Side effects from prescription drugs
- Being unaware that you need to use the bathroom
- Weakness in the muscle that holds a bowel movement until you reach a bathroom
- Being unable or reluctant to ask for help
To prevent problems, plan ahead and take extra efforts to retrain the bowel.
- Schedule a predictable pattern. It is important to restore a regular schedule of bowel
movements at established times as soon as possible. Opportunities to use the bathroom should be
planned according to previous bowel habits.
- Give yourself privacy.
- The sitting position allows you to lean forward, aiding the process.
- Be active during the day to stimulate the process of bowel movement.
- Eat healthy foods to reduce constipation and improve bowel control.
Treatments:
If problems persist, your doctor may suggest one of these drugs or treatments:
- A stool softener or bulk agent, called a suppository. Shaped like a bullet, suppositories are
inserted into the anus 30 minutes after a meal to stimulate a bowel movement. At first, you may
need a strong suppository. As your pattern changes, you can switch to a more mild form (such
as glycerin).When using suppositories, you should drink more liquids than usual. Never use
them for a long period of time.
- Enema or shot of liquid put into the rectum through the anus. Do the enema at a set time every
day (usually morning or evening) and adhere to your schedule. If enemas cause bleeding or
abdominal pain, consult your doctor right away.
- Oral Laxatives may be helpful in some cases, but be aware that their action times can be
unpredictable and they can cause incontinence in a person with poor bowel control.