Many of these changes in a person's mental abilities may improve but other changes in thinking may last longer. Cognitive rehabilitation may lessen the impact of these mental changes and increase the person's independent functioning. Communication and Swallowing Problems Following a Stroke Aphasia is a communication problem that can affect speech, reading, listening, and writing. People who suffer from aphasia may be unable to express a basic idea, such as hunger, or remember a single word, like the names of their children. They may not be able to read a newspaper, or even write their name.
Dysarthria is the name of a communication problem that affects the clarity of speech.
Weak muscles and poor coordination involving the mouth and throat can cause speech to be either slurred, too fast, too slow, too soft or too loud, and hard to understand. Very often stroke can cause a problem with swallowing, which is called dysphagia. This problem can range from a mild drooling to severe coughing and choking. In the most extreme case a patient may need a feeding tube, either in his nose or in his stomach. Many of us take our ability to communicate and swallow for granted.