Tips for Partners of Aphasia

    *   Don't interrupt - allow time for the person to get his message across
    * Don't overload the person with a lot of questions.
    * Offer choices instead of a lot of yes/no questions
    * Try to establish the topic by asking twenty questions ("Are you talking about the car or the house?")
    * Speak slowly but naturally. Insert pauses between sentences and at appropriate points within sentences.
    * Use short, simple sentences.
    * Use visual cues (objects, gestures, writing) to help the person understand.
    * Encourage the use of social greetings and simple greetings.
    * If the person is trying to express something and you know the word, allow the person to continue but if after several attempts, supply the word to minimize frustration.
    * Attempt to cue the person:

          a) provide short descriptions or category name
          b) use a short, open ended sentence to elicit the word automatically
          c) provide the first sound or syllable