How do you reteach a stroke victim to talk?

Question

The reason I ask is because I've heard that many stroke survivors can sing but cannot talk. Well I have a 3 year old student who cannot talk but can sing any song perfectly! This amazes me and I would like to find out how to reach him. I really believe this kid is brilliant but cannot express himself and I need info. Please help this little one!

Answer 1

If your child is 3 and can not talk you should have your child evaluated by a Speech-language pathologist. You can find a speech pathologist at asha.org.

Answer 2

singing and talking are mediated by slightly different neurological structures.

We need to develop his spoken language.

Is his hearing ok?

What you need to do is to go back to the beginning and to get him to walk the developmental pathway again from the beginning.  

Does he make eye contact?  does he look at your face?  These skills are the beginnings of anguage development, because what do faces do? - They communicate.

There is an organisation in the UK called 'Snowdrop.'  They use this strategy, it is called 'recursive communication therapy.'

hope this helps.

http://www.snowdrop.cc

Answer 3

There are certain therapists who are able to reteach a stroke victim to speak. It is cruicial to have a 3 year old victim taught how to speak, because early on is easier to teach, whereas, an older person has more difficulties learning how to speak again.

Answer 4

I do know that song and talk come from 2 different areas of the brain-I have worked with a number of kids that were able to sing before tehy coudl talk-

I don't know of any specific techniques-just perserverance-I do think that singing can stimulate the talk section of the brain

Answer 5

Speech Language Therapists are specifically trained to deal with the development of language and intervention for receptive and expressive language skills.  

All states have early intervention systems. There are criterion used for identification. Persons employed by the intervention system can make visits to a facility or a persons home for screening. If the child qualifies then an IFSP  (Individual Family Service Plan) is developed which is a working document for intervention. The intervention plan can include specific therapies. Go onto to your state's government website and type in education or maybe early intervention. Keep searching and you will find a phone number. It shouldn't be too difficult to find.

If you have no luck on the computer, call your local health department on Monday and ask for a phone number. Many hospitals keep the number on hand as well. You could also call the pre-school program available through your local school system for the number.

Good luck

Answer 6

Hi, Has the child team done a study with this child yet?  It sounds like the child could have Asbergers Syndrome.  You may wish to refer for further testing.  Speech/Language Therapist are trained to help a child with language development.  If that is the issue.  You need to refer for an evaluation.