The residual effects of a stroke depend upon the immediacy and effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitation, according to the Brain Foundation. Full recovery may be limited by the type and severity of impairment, the location of the stroke and the amount of damage to the surrounding brain tissue. Although a return to normal activities is always encouraged, limitations may prevent complete recovery, and care must be taken to pace rehabilitation protocols with the abilities of the patient.
Aphasia
Aphasia is a symptom of damage to the brain’s language center located on the left side of the brain. Stroke survivors with aphasia may have difficulty finding and speaking the correct words, or have trouble understanding what others say. Some recover fully, but others may suffer permanent disability. Because the effects of a stroke are unique to each individual, speech therapists tailor treatments to address the specific needs of each patient. In most cases, language comprehension is more easily recovered than vocabulary and speech limitations, says the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Motor Control
Many stroke survivors experience some paralysis and balance problems. If the neural damage is to the cerebellum, or the lower part of the brain, difficulty with coordination and posture, as well as the ability to execute fluid movement, frequently results. Whether paralysis occurs in the face, a limb or the entire side of the body, it most frequently affects the opposite side of the body from where the neural damage occurs. Recovery prediction is difficult: Researchers from the Department of Neurology, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark, found that only 10 percent of patients who suffer paralysis in the legs regained the ability to walk independently.
Cognitive Problems
Memory loss is a frequent result of stroke. The ability to remember names and recognize faces and shapes can be compromised, and the stroke victim may have difficulty learning new information or skills. If damage occurs to the front of the brain, it may be difficult to organize thoughts and perform sequential tasks. According to the National Stroke Association, some experts believe that between 10 and 20 percent of Americans over the age of 65 have some form of vascular dementia, of which stroke may be a contributing factor. In most cases, therapies and medication are unlikely to fully restore memory deficits, although rehabilitation--and in some instances spontaneous recovery--may result in some improvement.
References
- Brain Foundation: Stroke
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Aphasia Information Page
- National Institutes of Health: Prediction of Walking Function in Stroke Patients with Initial Extremity Paralysis: The Copenhagen Stroke Study
- National Stroke Association: Recovery After Stroke: Thinking and Cognition
