Lost the power to speak

[dennilson]

Has anyone any ideas to help us out. My Mother - now aged 80 - had an operation two years ago for a burst stomach ulcer. It was quite serious and she was in HDU for several weeks. However following the operation she lost the power to speak. She was given brain scans which showed that she had not suffered a stroke. She is not suffering from Alzheimers or dementia, and she is very sharp and lucid. But she cannot get her words out. Has anyone else experience of this, the Doctors seem to have just washed their hands of her due to her age, but it must be horrendous when you know there is nothing wrong with you but you cannot formulate your words.

[Sqad]

<<<but it must be horrendous when you know there is nothing wrong with you but you cannot formulate your words.<<<

There must be brain damage not showing up on the scan. Does she have difficulty in pronouncing her words (aphasia) or when asked to name an object e.g a cup, she cannot think of a name, but knows what to do with it (nominal aphasia).

It is not acceptable that she has been thrown on the "NHS scrapheap)...insist that you want her to be seen by a speech therapist (if there is one in your area)

[237SJ]

My friend`s sister suffered such traumatic childbirth that she lost the power of speech for a couple of months. It took about 4 months for her to speak properly again. It might be some sort of post-traumatic shock.

[treetops1]

This has happened to my daughter twice. Last year for 6 months and three months this year. She is epileptic and they say it has no connection. A speech therapist got her speech back last year after 4 visits. This year it suddenly came back on its own. You will have to push for speech therapy.

[dennilson]

Thanks for those great replies they all make sense. I could understand someone deteriorating with alzheimers for example but she has all of her wits about her and appears to - as you say - thrown on the NHS scrapheap. Very helpful answers thanks for your time

[anneasquith]

ive been following your thread den, im sorry about your mum. if any update please let us know, take care

[Whoever]

It's not acceptable that your mother has been left stranded in this NHW black hole, and it would obviously have been better if she could have had follow up support with a speech therapist much sooner. To have been stuck in this situation for two years must feel like a terrible prison for her. If you're not happy that her GP has given her acceptable follow-up treatment, try to change her doctor and insist that that she sees another specialist. I've had experience of trying to get medical attention for elderly parents and have learned that you just have to be a bit pushy on their behalf to ensure they're not just left to suffer in silence.