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We are back with more tips from people with aphasia for making communication aphasia-friendly.

 

During a recent Aphasia Cafe chat, 64.6% of people reported that the people they speak with during the day practice aphasia-friendly communication. Half of the time, friends and family asked what they could do to make the conversation aphasia-friendly. The other half of the time, people were happy to adjust if told what to do.

 

For the chat, we asked people with aphasia, “What do you ask people to do to make communication easier?” We rounded up the answers for anyone who couldn’t attend the chat because we believe people with aphasia are the best people to tell others how to practice aphasia-friendly communication.

15 More Communication Tips From People With Aphasia

 

1. Say: “May you please give me just ten minutes to reflect and properly articulate my thoughts in their fullest, most optimized form? Thanks!” — Adam

2. Proloquo2Go. — Alvin T

3. I try to look at them, and that often helps. — Ann T

4. Pictures, emojis, slow speaking, no background noise. — Ayse N

5. I tell them what to do. — Elizabeth H

6. One-on-one conversations. — Bob

7. Speak slowly. — Kathie B

8. Have me write. — Lori F

9. Understand that sometimes I can’t remember a word. That I try writing it or ask them for an alternative word related to the one I can’t remember. Often, if I just move forward, I become able to remember the word. — Debbie M

10. Speak clearly, slowly, and concisely. — KC F

11. Slow down. — Rick M

12. Slow down, spell words out, write words, use facial cues and gestures, and use the cell phone to write things out over text messages. — Joanne K

13. Really listen (with aphasia or not!). — Janis J

14. Ask them to slow down and repeat themselves. — Karen R

15. Slow down when speaking. — Jim S

 

We will have the final advice from other people with aphasia next week.

Watch Our Communication Tips Video

 

We believe we can teach people aphasia-friendly communication if we work together. It starts with a simple video:

 

 

Please share it with your friends and family, and then take it to your community. Conversations will become aphasia-friendly when cashiers, bus drivers, hotel staff, first responders, teachers, or doctors learn these tips and put them into practice.

 

Just copy this message:

 

June is Aphasia Awareness Month. Aphasia-friendly communication is just good communication for everyone. Let’s #TalkAboutAphasia and make the world a more understanding place: https://bit.ly/talkaboutaphasia2023

 

Thank you for helping make the world a more aphasia-friendly place.