Word finding difficulties can be a significant symptom of aphasia.
Here are a few strategies individuals can use to support their own communication or that others can use to support the affected individual when experiencing such difficulties:
- Describe: Try to describe the word you are trying to say, for example, ‘it is cold,’ ‘it holds food,’ ‘ it’s in the kitchen,’ (is it a fridge?)
- Substitute: Use a synonym or word of similar meaning for the word that you cannot say. Or use an anonym or opposite word for the one that you are trying to produce. This may prompt you as your mind is then thinking of associated words.
- Rest: Take a break and try it later. Word retrieval is much more difficult when you are tired. Make sure to monitor your fatigue over the course of the day.
- Take it slow: Word retrieval becomes more difficult if you are nervous, anxious or feeling embarrassed. Slow down your conversation if possible and maybe even change the topic. You can always come back to it later on.
- Write: Write down words in a notebook that you want to say, but can’t verbally say if you are able to. Or write down the first letter of the word if that is all you can think of. The letter may help trigger the word you want to say.
- Phonemic cues: Attempt to say the first sound of a word if it is ‘on the tip of your tongue.’ Trying to at least say the first sound of the word, often triggers the production of the whole word.
- Practice: Compile a list of words that you frequently have trouble producing and use that list to practice saying out loud every day. To help with functional independence, word on naming objects and people in your own living environment first.
- Gestures: Use your face, arms and whole body as much as possible to gesture how to use or to describe the word that you are trying to produce e.g. miming drinking.
- Associate: Try to think of words associated with the word that you cannot produce, for example, say ‘orange,’ ‘apple,’ and, ‘banana,’ out loud to help you produce the word, ‘pear.’
- Draw: Draw the picture of the word that you want to produce. Seeing the picture may help trigger the word so that you may be able to produce it verbally or will prompt your listener into the word you are trying to say.
