Living with dysarthria & stigma

Thank you for your email. Things are much better now with mum. And I feel a lot less stressed!

The hospital team have been great. Mum is still on the ward, is nearly walking and has been attending special language classes.

Basically, the stroke she had affects her conversation skills. She interrupts now, goes off on tangents and seems not interested in others. At first we didn’t understand why. Now we realise it’s not her, it’s the stroke – a kind of brain damage. She may always speak in riddles a bit and we have to watch how we speak because she can take things literally.

I think her classes have helped. She is more realistic about the changes and has some strategies to use. She seems easier to talk with and is taking more interest in Sophie and Theo, asking after them more. They were up the other day to see her and the visit went well. They were so pleased to see her and she asked all about their party (with a bit of coaching from her speech therapist I suspect!)

We hope she will get out of hospital quite soon. The staff are saying she is nearly ready. I’m so relieved. I miss the old mum but I’m learning to love the new one!!

Hope this finds you well.

With love

Brenda