I
had my stroke in June of 1994. My stroke was a rare kind of stroke. It was a
tear in the left vertebral artery causing a brainstem stroke. Nine of the
twelve cranial nerves which affect the motor skills were affected. This type of
stroke seems to happens more frequently to young people. I was only 36. It may
have happened from me making my neck crack, nobody really knows. I was told
that I'd probably never speak or move again. What a scary thought. I lost my
speech and am quadriplegic. Luckily I got limited movement back and then out of
shear luck and a lot of hard work my speech. This is how it happened.
I
had lost my speech completely at first. This lasted about six months. I had to
use a Communication Board (a piece of Plexiglas with letters on it). It's not
any fun to just sit there and not give any input to a conversation or not be
able to answer a question or not be able to cry out in pain. I quickly learned
what frustration is. I learned, by accident, that if I tensed up by pushing my feet against my foot rests I was able to let out a grunt. I learned how to say some words in this way. I was still having problems making certain sounds. The T or C or S were some of them. Words with blends, such as SC were out of the question.
By chance my wife had read an article about a person who had a similar kind of stroke. The person used a Palatal Lift to help her speak. This is an oral prosthetic, like a denture. It sounded too good to be true. We spoke to my Speech Therapist but she didn't sound too optimistic. She wasn't negative but she wasn't sure that it would help me. She really didn't know too much about them. I kept practicing using my pushing technique for a couple of months but there were still those sounds I couldn't make.
Again, by accident, I learned that if someone held my nose I could make those sounds . Apparently air was escaping out of my nose preventing me from making the sound I wanted. With this discovery my Speech Therapist felt that maybe the Palatal Lift might indeed help. There was no guarantee but I was willing to try. Life without talking was too inconceivable. Besides I looked pretty silly with someone holding my nose everytime I wanted to talk.
We found a doctor who had experience making Palatal Lifts (actually he was an Oral Prosthedontist, a dentist). He made the form, which is like a plastic retainer, and with a few modifications I was able to start talking. I now could say almost anything.
I was still having to deal with another neurological problem though. I also have Dysarthia. All the things which are required for normal speech are extremely weak. Breath support, lip strength, tongue movement, facial muscles, all the things that you take for granted when you speak were severely effected. I can talk but it is very soft. I'll take that though. I can speak. What was once inconceivable, in my doctor's opinion, was now happening.
If I can't say a word I spell it. Its easier that way. We got rid of the Communication Board as soon as we could. I don't have to push with my feet anymore either. My breath support has improved even with the dysarthia. I can say about three or four words per breath. I have to coordinate my talking with my out breath. This is essential for my speech. My voice is somewhat monotone too. I can get a little inflection in it but my voice doesn't sound natural. My breathing is also on automatic.
It seems strange that such a simple device could make a big difference like that. There are a few minor drawbacks to it (like being a mouth breather because the Palatal Lift prevent you from breathing out your nose) but they are worth it.
I hope this story may help someone else. One thing that I've learned is to never give up.
If you would like to read about
my continued speech progress click here.
The Stroke Network,
Inc.
P.O. Box 492 Abingdon,
Maryland 21009
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