Communication disorders

Abstract

Communication disorders are among the invisible consequences of stroke but may have a huge impact on the social life of patients, when they are no longer able to share their thoughts, ideas and needs with the people surrounding them. Also, family members themselves suffer from these communication disorders, when it has become difficult to communicate with their loved one. In general, three types of communication disorders after stroke are distinguished: aphasia, cognitive communication disorder and dysarthria (Borrie et al., 2012). In this chapter, the disorders are described by their impact on the patients themselves and on their conversation partners. In the last paragraph conditions for good communication in a nursing environment are discussed.