Getting your voice back after a stroke can be difficult – language flashcards can help
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain bursts or is blocked by a clot. A portion of the brain does not get the blood it needs, which leads to the loss of brain cells.
Stroke can lead to speech and language problems, memory loss, vision loss and/or paralysis. Stroke rehab is an important part of the recovery process. Stroke patients may need to relearn skills that have been lost, as well as regain speech and strengthen their memory.

Language difficulties and stroke
At least ¼ of all stroke survivors experience language impairments, involving the ability to speak, write, and understand spoken and written language. Regaining these abilities requires carefully directed, well-focused and repetitive practice.
Research using advanced imaging technology shows that repetitive practice assists with moving functions located within the affected part of the brain to other regions. In short, it’s driving the rewiring of brain circuits, also known as neuroplasticity.
It is the same kind of practice used by all people when they learn a new skill, such as playing the piano or pitching a baseball.
Picture flashcards for stroke patients
Picture flashcards can aid a range of speech and language challenges after stroke.
Stroke can often affect a patient’s ability to understand and produce speech, as well as the clarity and rate at which words are spoken. Practising with flashcards can help to regain these skills.
Flashcards can also be used to treat cognitive and memory challenges by improving recall and helping the patient relearn common words.
A stroke patient may struggle with spatial reasoning. This relates to the ability to think about objects in three dimensions, such as on top, in front and inside. Picture flashcards for stroke patients can simplify these concepts by showing a specific object in different positions. So if it is clothes, they are either on top, in front or inside a washing machine.
Flashcard sets are accessible, inexpensive and portable tools that can be used in hospital or rehab settings as well as during therapy sessions and at home.

Using flashcards for stroke rehabilitation
Here are some examples of how flashcards can be used for stroke rehabilitation:
I purchased three different packs of cards – Go together, Prepositions and Verbs – and all have been invaluable for helping my husband regain some of his words and improving his memory after having a stroke.
Ruth