Devices that Help Stroke Patients Living Independently

A fellow caregiver asked...

Hi, My mother suffered a stroke and it effected her speech and writing. Is there a device to help her dial her telephone and also a device that can help her write?

Expert Answer

James Castle, M.D. is a neurologist at NorthShore University HealthSystem (affiliated with The University of Chicago) and an expert on strokes.

Sorry to hear about her situation. Unfortunately, I am not aware of any such devices, mostly because the "language centers" of the brain that control speech also control reading and writing. Therefore, there may be a comprehension problem that is not fixable.

That said, I would call your local hospital or health care center and ask to see one of their "Speech Therapists". They may have a good solution for you, as they are specfically trained in helping people recover from strokes that affect language and comprehension. For the phone dialing issue, it may be best to program in some speed dials of common numbers that she uses, and put picture cues next to the proper telephone number (such a picture of yourself next to the button that speed dials you).

Good luck!