Customer Reviews

The Family Guide to Surviving Stroke and Communication Disorders

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The book was well written. It gave good insight to what many stroke survivors face when they confronted with the disablity of not being able to communicate by speech. It's obvious that Dennis Tanner has a great degree of empathy for stroke survivors and their care providers. The book describes in detail what is transpiring physically with apraxia of speech. Speech is compared to a computer and its many funtions. As a stroke survivor with severe Broca's apshasia and resulting apraxia I found the book to be of great help as did my family. It was well written and answered many of the questions that my family and myself had. I would recommend it as a "must" for stroke survivors with communication disorders.

The author, a speech therapist, discusses in great detail the "big three" communication disorders caused by stroke: aphasia, apraxia and dysarthria as well as the ramifications of these disabilities for the patient. Technical terms are explained in detail so that the non-medical person can understand them. The psychological aspects of language loss are discussed in terms of the patient's anxiety, depression and acceptance of unwanted change. Speech rehabilitation is covered and the book has typical questions and answers a reader might ask following the last chapter. Resources such as web sites, support groups, etc. are also included. The book may be overly detailed for some readers. I was disappointed that the author dealt primarily with the stroke patient's survival without addressing how the family could survive the often devastating effects of language disability or loss.

The book was well written. It gave good insight to what many stroke survivors face when they confronted with the disablity of not being able to communicate by speech. It's obvious that Dennis Tanner has a great degree of empathy for stroke survivors and their care providers. The book describes in detail what is transpiring physically with apraxia of speech. Speech is compared to a computer and its many funtions. As a stroke survivor with severe Broca's apshasia and resulting apraxia I found the book to be of great help as did my family. It was well written and answered many of the questions that my family and myself had. I would recommend it as a "must" for stroke survivors with communication disorders.

The author, a speech therapist, discusses in great detail the "big three" communication disorders caused by stroke: aphasia, apraxia and dysarthria as well as the ramifications of these disabilities for the patient. Technical terms are explained in detail so that the non-medical person can understand them. The psychological aspects of language loss are discussed in terms of the patient's anxiety, depression and acceptance of unwanted change. Speech rehabilitation is covered and the book has typical questions and answers a reader might ask following the last chapter. Resources such as web sites, support groups, etc. are also included. The book may be overly detailed for some readers. I was disappointed that the author dealt primarily with the stroke patient's survival without addressing how the family could survive the often devastating effects of language disability or loss.