Life without communication is a reality for Stroke survivors like Mark

A world without communication is an everyday reality for the 350,000 stroke survivors in the UK with aphasia ⁽ⁱ⁾ like Mark Leather from Cardiff– aphasia is a communication disability that is most commonly caused by stroke.

Aphasia can affect a person’s ability to speak, read, write and use numbers, but it does not affect intellect.

Mark Leather from Cardiff had a stroke at the age of 55 in 2018. He collapsed in Cardiff city Centre whilst out walking with his partner Patrick. Nobody stopped to help and Patrick didn’t know what to do.

Kady Chatman, Mark’s sister said, “Mark was just 55 years old and there had been no indication that anything was wrong. It was a huge shock to all of us. Mark was left with paralysis and his speech was affected.”

Mark was in hospital for two months and slowly regained physically and is able to walk but his aphasia remains.

“Strokes are thieves. It has stolen Mark’s life and taken elements that he can never get back. Having aphasia means he has lost the ability to communicate which has resulted in losing his job and his independence. We don’t want it to steal his enjoyment for life as well.”

“The effects of aphasia are long-lasting and wide-reaching. Mark’s life has changed forever, he struggles in social situations and needs one to one support. Patrick has had to become a carer and we as a family have had to step in to help navigate the complex world of social help, medical therapy, legal aspects, and financial support. The stroke happened to Mark, but we have all had our lives changed because of it.”

Throughout Mark's ordeal, the Stroke association have provided unparalleled support, not only to Mark but also specifically to Patrick and to the family.

Kady said, “The Stroke Association have been the only organisation who continues to provide much-needed activities for Mark's rehabilitation, signposting us to therapy groups, specialists and useful contacts. They have provided critical carer's support for Patrick and included him in Mark's speech therapy groups.

Kady adds: “I would encourage everyone with aphasia to seek help. Find information, get advice and use the tools and services which charities like the Stroke Association provide, to help you with your recovery.”

Research has been carried out by the Stroke Association to mark Aphasia Awareness Month and to encourage stroke survivors living with aphasia to use the information and support that’s available from the charity so they can navigate the challenges aphasia brings.

The fear of being unable to communicate like Mark has been laid bare in the new survey ⁽ⁱⁱ⁾ by the Stroke Association which reveals that over a third of respondents (34%) can’t imagine living in a world where they couldn’t communicate.

The charity’s latest survey also reveals people’s biggest fears if they lost their ability to communicate:

• Over a third (37%)of people feared not being able to carry out everyday activities
• · Nearly a quarter (24%)of people feared how it would affect their relationships with family and loved ones
• 12% feared being lonely
• 12% feared not being able to express their emotions

The charity’s survey also highlighted how vital communication is to our everyday lives⁽ⁱ⁾:

• Over half (53%) of people said they rely most on meeting face to face or talking in person
• Nearly a quarter (24%) rely on email, text or instant messaging
• One in ten (10%) depend upon talking on the phone

For many stroke survivors with aphasia, these commonly used communication tools are either a challenge or impossible to use.

Katie Chappelle, Associate Director for Wales, Stroke Association said:

“Aphasia is incredibly common after stroke, affecting one in three stroke survivors. It robs you of the ability to talk to loved ones, to do everyday tasks such as go shopping, use public services or get online - things we all take for granted. People with aphasia often feel lonely and isolated too, which can impact their relationships.

“But there is hope and the brain can recover and adapt. Stroke survivors with aphasia can make improvements as well as developing alternative ways of communicating. Get in touch with the Stroke Association to find out how we can help. We’re here to support people with aphasia to rebuild their lives and to regain their confidence and independence. Our “Getting Online for People with Aphasia” guide equips you with the skills you need to get online, keep in touch with family and friends and to connect with the stroke community. Support is also available through our stroke support groups, My Stroke Guide and communication support service.

“It’s also incredibly important for the public to be aware of what aphasia is, the things to look out for and to learn strategies that might help those with aphasia living in their community. We all have a part to play in adapting our communication to be inclusive for all.”

If you or someone you know is living with aphasia, visit stroke.org.uk/aphasia for information and support.

The ‘Getting Online for People with Aphasia’ guide is available at: www.stroke.org.uk/aphasiaonline

My Stroke Guide is available at: https://www.stroke.org.uk/finding-support/my-stroke-guide

Ends

For more information, contact: Laura Thomas, Communications Officer at the Stroke Association via Laura.Thomas@stroke.org.uk

References

(i) Prevalence of aphasia and dysarthria among inpatient stroke survivors: describing the population, therapy provision and outcomes on discharge

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02687038.2020.1759772

(ii) Statistics based on a 4Media Relations nationally representative survey of 2,005 members of the public, conducted in April 2022

Mae bywyd heb gyfathrebu yn realiti i oroeswyr Strôc fel Mark

Mae’r Gymdeithas Strôc yn rhannu arolwg i nodi Mis Ymwybyddiaeth o Affasia

Mae byd heb gyfathrebu yn realiti beunyddiol i’r 350,000 o oroeswyr strôc ag affasia yn y Deyrnas Unedig ⁽ⁱ⁾ , fel Mark Leather o Gaerdydd. Anabledd cyfathrebu yw affasia a achosir yn fwyaf cyffredin gan strôc.

Gall affasia effeithio ar allu unigolyn i siarad, darllen, ysgrifennu a defnyddio rhifau, ond nid yw’n effeithio ar ddealltwriaeth.

Cafodd Mark Leather o Gaerdydd strôc yn 55 mlwydd oed yn 2018. Llewygodd yng nghanol dinas Caerdydd tra ei fod yn cerdded â’i gymar Patrick. Ni wnaeth neb stopio i helpu ac ni wyddai Patrick beth i’w wneud.

Dywedodd Kady Chatman, chwaer Mark, “Roedd Mark ond yn 55 mlwydd oed, ac nid oedd yna arwydd wedi bod fod rhywbeth o’i le. Roedd o’n fraw mawr inni i gyd. Gadawyd Mark â pharlys ac effeithiwyd ar ei leferydd.”

Roedd Mark mewn ysbyty am ddau fis, ac adferodd yn gorfforol yn araf ac mae’n gallu cerdded, ond erys ei affasia.

“Lladron yw strociau. Mae wedi dwyn bywyd Mark ac wedi mynd ag elfennau na all byth eu cael yn ôl. Mae cael affasia’n golygu ei fod wedi colli’r gallu i gyfathrebu, sydd wedi arwain at golli’i waith a’i annibyniaeth. Nid oes arnom eisiau iddo ddwyn ei fwynhad o fywyd hefyd.”

“Mae effeithiau affasia yn hirbarhaol ac yn bellgyrhaeddol. Mae bywyd Mark wedi newid am byth, mae’n ei chael hi’n anodd mewn sefyllfaoedd cymdeithasol ac mae arno angen cymorth un i un. Mae Patrick wedi gorfod dod yn ofalwr, ac rydym ninnau fel teulu wedi gorfod ymyrryd i helpu i lywio’r byd cymhleth o gymorth cymdeithasol, therapi meddygol, agweddau cyfreithiol, a chymorth ariannol. I Mark y digwyddodd y strôc, ond newidiwyd bywydau pob un ohonom o’i herwydd.”

Drwy gydol dioddefaint Mark, mae’r Gymdeithas Strôc wedi darparu cymorth dihafal, nid yn unig i Mark ond hefyd yn benodol i Patrick ac i’r teulu.

Dywedodd Kady, “Y Gymdeithas Strôc yw’r unig sefydliad sy’n parhau i ddarparu gweithgareddau gwir eu hangen ar gyfer adferiad Mark, gan ddangos y ffordd inni at grwpiau therapi, arbenigwyr a chysylltiadau defnyddiol. Maent wedi darparu cymorth gofalwyr hanfodol i Patrick ac wedi’i gynnwys yng ngrwpiau therapi lleferydd Mark.

Ychwanega Kady: “Byddwn yn annog pawb ag affasia i ymofyn cymorth. Canfyddwch wybodaeth, ewch am gyngor a defnyddiwch yr offer a’r gwasanaethau y mae elusennau fel y Gymdeithas Strôc yn eu darparu i’ch helpu â’ch adferiad.”

Gwnaed ymchwil gan y Gymdeithas Strôc i nodi Mis Ymwybyddiaeth o Affasia ac i annog goroeswyr strôc sy’n byw ag affasia i ddefnyddio’r wybodaeth a’r cymorth sydd ar gael gan yr elusen fel eu bod yn gallu ymdrin â’r heriau a ddaw gydag affasia.

Mae’r ofn o fod yn methu â chyfathrebu fel Mark wedi’i amlygu’n eglur yn yr arolwg ⁽ⁱⁱ⁾ newydd gan y Gymdeithas Strôc sy’n datgelu nac all dros draean o atebwyr (34%) ddychmygu byw mewn byd lle na allent gyfathrebu.

Mae arolwg diweddaraf yr elusen hefyd yn datgelu ofnau mwyaf pobl os ydynt yn colli’u gallu i gyfathrebu.

• Ofnaidros draean (37%) o bobl y byddent yn methu â chyflawni gweithgareddau beunyddiol;
• Ofnai bron i chwarter (24%) o bobl sut y byddai’n effeithio ar eu perthnasoedd â theulu ac anwyliaid;
• Ofnai 12% fod yn unig;
• Ofnai 12% fethu â gallu mynegi’u hemosiynau.

Amlygodd arolwg yr elusen hefyd mor hanfodol yw cyfathrebu i’n bywydau beunyddiol⁽ⁱ⁾:

• Dywedodd dros hanner (53%) o bobl eu bod yn dibynnu fwyaf ar gyfarfod wyneb yn wyneb neu siarad yn y cnawd;
• Dibynna bron i chwarter (24%) ar e-bost, testun neu negeseua gwib;
• Dibynna un o bob deg (10%) ar siarad ar y ffôn.

I lawer o oroeswyr strôc ag affasia, mae’r offer cyfathrebu hyn a ddefnyddir yn gyffredin naill ai’n her neu’n amhosibl i’w defnyddio.

Dywedodd Katie Chappelle, Cyfarwyddwr Cyswllt Cymru, y Gymdeithas Strôc:

“Mae affasia’n anhygoel o gyffredin ar ôl strôc, gan effeithio ar un o bob tri o oroeswyr strôc. Mae’n eich amddifadu o’r gallu i siarad ag anwyliaid, i wneud gorchwylion beunyddiol megis mynd i siopa, defnyddio gwasanaethau cyhoeddus neu fynd ar-lein – pethau rydym oll yn eu cymryd yn ganiataol. Mae pobl ag affasia yn aml yn teimlo yn unig ac yn ynysig hefyd, a all effeithio ar eu perthnasoedd.

“Ond mae yna obaith, ac fe all yr ymennydd wella ac addasu. Gall goroeswyr ag affasia wneud gwelliannau yn ogystal â datblygu ffyrdd gwahanol o gyfathrebu. Cysylltwch â’r Gymdeithas Strôc i ganfod sut y gallwn helpu. Rydym ar gael i gynorthwyo pobl ag affasia i ailadeiladu’u bywydau ac i adennill eu hyder a’u hannibyniaeth. Mae ein canllaw “Mynd Ar-lein i Bobl ag Affasia / Getting Online for People with Aphasia” yn eich cyfarparu â’r sgiliau y mae arnoch eu hangen i fynd ar-lein, i gadw mewn cysylltiad â theulu a chyfeillion, ac i gysylltu â’r gymuned strôc. Mae cymorth hefyd ar gael drwy’n grwpiau cymorth strôc, Fy Nghanllaw Strôc, a gwasanaeth cymorth cyfathrebu.

“Mae hi hefyd yn anhygoel o bwysig bod y cyhoedd yn ymwybodol o’r hyn yw affasia, y pethau i gadw llygad amdanynt a dysgu strategaethau a allai helpu’r rheiny ag affasia sy’n byw yn eu cymuned. Mae gennym oll ran i’w gwneud i addasu’n cyfathrebu i fod yn gynhwysol o bawb.”

Os ydych chi neu rywun rydych yn ei adnabod yn byw ag affasia, ewch i stroke.org.uk/aphasia am wybodaeth a chymorth.

Mae’r canllaw ‘Mynd Ar-lein i Bobl ag Affasia / Getting Online for People with Aphasia’ ar gael yn: www.stroke.org.uk/aphasiaonline

Mae Fy Nghanllaw Strôc ar gael yn: https://www.stroke.org.uk/finding-support/my-stroke-guide

Gorffen

I gael mwy o wybodaeth, cysylltwch â: Laura Thomas, Swyddog Cyfathrebu, yn y Gymdeithas Strôc drwy anfon e-bost at Laura.Thomas@stroke.org.uk

Cyfeiriadau

(i) Cyffredinolrwydd affasia a pharlys lleferydd ymysg goroeswyr strôc sy’n gleifion mewnol: disgrifio’r boblogaeth, darparu therapi a chanlyniadau wrth ryddhau o’r ysbyty

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02687038.2020.1759772

ii) Ystadegau yn seiliedig ar arolwg gan 4Media Relations sy’n genedlaethol gynrychiadol o 2,005 o aelodau’r cyhoedd, a gynhaliwyd ym mis Ebrill, 2022.