A new Blog Post from Tender Loving Eldercare describes and discusses the medical condition called aphasia. Severe aphasia will affect speaking, writing, reading and listening skills.

Through my research I’ve found the additional tips below from the National Aphasia Association for communicating with our aging parents who have aphasia:
During conversation, minimize or eliminate background noise (such as TV, radio, other people) as much as possible.
Other modes of communication can include writing, drawing, and gestures.
Give them time to talk and let them have a reasonable amount of time to respond. Avoid speaking for the person with aphasia except when necessary and ask permission before doing so.
Keep communication simple but adult. Reduce your own rate of speech. You don’t need to speak louder then normal, but do emphasize key words.
Don’t talk down to the person with aphasia. Their intelligence is still intact; don’t let others assume they are mentally retarded or mentally ill.

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