Mental evaluations after a stroke?
After a massive stroke, how do you tell if he still knows stuff? Like our dog, his new motor home, where he lives, all that? He can't speak, but they've mentioned nothing about what he might know or remember.
Expert Answer
Unfortunately, it's hard to answer this without knowing the details of the stroke. However, it sounds like his language centers were effected by the stroke. At a minimum, it sounds like his language production centers were effected. Often, people who can't make language after a stroke can still understand a surprising amount of what is going on around them and what is being spoken to them. I've seen patients who were virtually mute, but still seemed to have complete understanding of what was being said to them.
Also, even if the language part of his brain was severely damaged, this doesn't mean that he doesn't recognize you and his surroundings. If he is awake and alert, he almost undoubtedly recognizes you and appreciates that you are with him. He probably has a basic understanding of the world around him, even if he can't communicate using his language centers.
I hope this helps. Good luck, and remember that recovery from a stroke can contiue for up to 6-24 months.