Tips for Talking

Getting Started: Practical Tips For Communicating

• Make a mini photo album with pictures of family members, friends, and places. Use it when you start a new topic. The person with aphasia can also use it to let you know who he is thinking about.
• Offer choices. For example, “Do you want orange juice or apple juice?” “Do you want to wear the red shirt or the blue shirt?”
• Ask “yes no” questions. “Do you want orange juice?”; “Do you want apple juice?”
• When talking about things that are not in the here and now, use pictures or quick drawings if possible.
• Point and use gestures to supplement words.

Tips For Talking

• Allow extra time to talk.
• Noise can make it harder to listen.
  –  Turn off the TV, radio, CD player.
  –  Sit away from the air conditioner, washing machine, dish washer.
  –   Don’t try to talk in the car or on the street.
• Use photos or simple drawings to orient the person to the topic.
• Don’t be a fast talker. Talk at a relaxed rate of speech.
• Use short, simple sentences. Say one idea at a time.
• Don’t use baby talk or “talk down”.
  People with aphasia are still adults, with adult intelligence and interests.
• Write down “key words’, the most important ideas in the discussion.
• Check frequently to see if everyone understands.
• If one of you doesn’t understand, try to it another way. Be flexible.
• Remember that it can be frustrating for everyone. Try to stay calm, and keep
  your sense of humor!