• Information
• Publications
  • Brain and Spine Booklets
  • About our publications
  • Get involved publications
  • Case studies
• Children's resources
• Neurological centres
• Glossary
• Information Access toolkit
• Communication skills project

|

There are other communication problems that do not result from aphasia,
dysarthria or dyspraxia. After a head injury a person may undergo certain
behavioural changes which can affect communication. For example, the person may no longer have turn-taking skills in conversation and keep talking over people when they should be listening, or they may stand too close to other people or launch into conversations apparently in the middle of a story. Memory, hearing and sight may also be affected, or the person’s intellectual abilities may have suffered, and all of these problems are likely to affect their ability to communicate. More information on the difficulties that can result from head injury can be found in the Brain and Spine Foundation booklet on the subject or from Headway, whose address can be found in other organisations that may be able to help.

Whilst the left side of the brain is the side which usually controls language, the right side does have a role in communication. This means that when the right side of the brain is affected by a stroke, speech can become monotonous, facial expression can become blank and the person may fail to appreciate humour or metaphors.

Both of these apparently more subtle communication problems can have a serious impact on a person’s life, and a speech and language therapist may be able to help minimise their effect.