Strokes affect people differently. The impairments following a stroke depend on how severe the stroke damage is, as well as where in the brain the stroke took place. Impairments following a stroke may change over time, as the brain heals after its injury. Some people fully recover from their stroke, while others have lasting impairments.
Identification
Impairments found in stroke patients may begin as the stroke is taking place. In fact, some of the symptoms of a stroke in progress are similar to typical impairments following a stroke. These include difficulty moving one side of the body, confused thinking and slurred speech. Different types of strokes have different lasting impairments. For instance, after a "mini stroke," also known as a transient ischemic attack or TIA, most impairments are usually fully resolved. Other stroke impairments vary based on where in the brain the stroke takes place.
Movement Impairments
Strokes on one side of the brain usually affect the other side of the body. So, a right hemisphere stroke would cause left-sided weakness and vice versa. Depending on how severe the stroke was, a person may have complete paralysis of one side of the body, called hemiplegia, or simple weakness in the muscles on that side, called hemiparesis. Over time, some strokes cause spasticity, when the muscles on one side of a limb overpower those on the other side. Some examples include a hand that is closed in a fist, or an elbow that is "stuck" in the bent position. Motor problems after a stroke don't only affect the arms and legs: They can affect the muscles in the mouth and tongue as well, slurring speech. A cerebellar stroke also causes movement impairments and often results in balance problems.
Visual and Cognitive Impairments
Strokes don't only cause difficulty with movement; they can cause problems with thinking, seeing and speaking as well. For instance, after a left hemisphere stroke, a person may have difficulty finding words when speaking. The NINDS refers to this as aphasia. A stroke in the visual centers of the brain can cause double or blurry vision, and may even cause what is called a field cut. In a field cut, a portion of the person's visual field is not interpreted by the brain. In addition, after a stroke, a person may have difficulty solving simple problems and may become either more impulsive or less responsive.
Considerations
Because different areas of the brain control different functions in the body, it is difficult to predict the outcome of a stroke. Two people with similar areas of injury may be completely different. While a "typical" stroke patient might have a contracted hand and a limp when he walks, another may have problems understanding conversations.
Time Frame for Stroke Recovery
Patients can expect recovery to last up to a few years. The brain changes a great deal after a stroke, but it also has the ability to reorganize to a degree. After a stroke, movement and speech may become less difficult with practice and repetition. Medline Plus reports that the time required for stroke recovery varies from person to person.
