Patient Advice

Abdul’s advice: When I was in hospital, I couldn’t speak all of a sudden. I relaxed and then answered. Now, I say to myself if I cannot understand or say something ‘stop, go back and start again, just relax.’

Deena’s advice: I play music all the time and sing – to make my speech better.

Abdul’s advice: I have to read slowly it takes me a very long time to read. When I do it everyday, slowly, it gets better. Maybe start with one hour.

Mel’s advice: I found it very frustrating that I couldn’t speak properly and I couldn’t get people to understand what I was trying to say. I just had to say to myself and my family kept saying ‘you need to give yourself some time’. And once I got to know people, who understood what happened, it was fine. It was just people who I hadn’t met before who I struggled with. It’s just letting people know that it’d take me a while to get what I was trying to say out.

Chris’s advice: I write things down and use an iPad and mobile phone to show what I mean. I’m also very good at ‘acting’ or gesturing what I’m trying to express.

Nick’s advice: I write things down, and I also have a communication folder, with images, maps, etc., so I can point out what I mean.

Deena’s advice: I prepare words and sentences on my tablet computer, so I can point these out in conversation.