| Dysphasia is frequently diagnosed while the patient | | | | process as quickly as possible. There is no medical |
| is being treated for injury to the brain, be it from | | | | or surgical cure for dysphasia. Treatment, instead, |
| trauma or disease. The health professional, | | | | relies strongly upon the use of various speech |
| typically a neurologist, will conduct standard | | | | therapies. Much like physical therapy strengthens |
| cognitive tests, including tests to determine | | | | muscles and bones back to normalcy, speech |
| whether the patient's language centers have been | | | | therapy allow the patient to regain language |
| affected. If the patient exhibits signs of difficulty | | | | function, as well as rebuild their communications |
| communicating, they will often be referred to a | | | | skills. Treatment is typically conducted with a |
| speech-language pathologist. In turn, the | | | | trained speech therapist. Group sessions are |
| pathologist will conduct a comprehensive | | | | common and allow the patient to practice their |
| examination of the patient's ability language and | | | | language skills in a non-threatening environment |
| comprehension skills. This examination may begin | | | | with others sharing their disability. Although much |
| with evaluating the patient's ability to repeat | | | | of therapeutic work is conducted by a speech |
| words and phrases, recognize and describe | | | | therapist, friends and family also play a vital role in |
| objects, and comprehend what is said to them. | | | | the patient's recovery. They can help the patient |
| More extensive and standardized language-based | | | | continually practice and exercise language skills |
| tests may be required, including the Porch Index | | | | while outside the therapeutic setting. Many times, |
| of Speech Ability and the Boston Diagnostic | | | | family members are included on therapy sessions |
| Aphasia Examination. Based on the result of the | | | | to teach them how to communicate with and |
| examinations, the health professional will be able | | | | understand the patient. There are several |
| to determine the type of dysphasia inflicting the | | | | treatments available, which utilize the patient's |
| patient. More extensive damage may require the | | | | remaining language abilities to rebuild and |
| use of computed tomography or magnetic | | | | compensate for those that were lost. These |
| resonance imaging for an effective diagnosis. | | | | include out-put focused therapy |
| Initially it is necessary to treat and stabilize the | | | | (stimulation-response), psycholinguistic therapy |
| injury underlying the development of the patient's | | | | (cognitive), cognitive neurorehabilitation, and |
| dysphasia. In some cases, such as with damage | | | | combinations thereof. Although these treatments |
| caused by TIA, a full recovery can be expedient | | | | approach aphasia differently, they all share a |
| and take only a few days. Unfortunately, most | | | | common thread by identifying the specific |
| dysphasias can take months, if not years, to | | | | communication deficits and then targeting them |
| recover from. Even after prolonged therapy, | | | | with various modalities (computer-aided therapy, |
| many patients never achieve a full recovery. | | | | picture cards, reading and writing exercises, |
| Efficacy of treatment greatly depends on the | | | | speech practice, etc.). These techniques stimulate |
| promptness with which it begins. For this reason, | | | | the various parts of the brain associated with |
| many medical facilities have speech-language | | | | language, memory, and understanding, and thus |
| pathologists on staff to begin the initial treatment | | | | allow it to heal. |