I have been going to high level speech and language therapy twice a week. It is called "higher cognitive functioning" which means that in social situations and general conversations I manage very well in terms of communication and most people do not see that there is a problem.  However, in stressed situations or when I have to do tasks that involve, for example, the following: 

• Solve complex problems quickly

• Respond quickly to a question or statement

• Abstract reasoning

• Memory retention for work related tasks

• Writing/creating longer texts i.e. letters, work plans  

• Grammatical errors i.e. irregular spelling

• Present information verbally i.e. a project that I am working on

When I was admitted to UCT Private Hospital I could not speak at all. A few words did come out but apparently it was mainly swearing. I was very frustrated as I couldn't communicate. In the beginning I thought that having had the stroke was like been in a car accident. Your mouth could be sore so you couldn’t speak and you may be confused but after a couple of weeks you would be able to speak again and understand everything. This isn’t what happened to me. I didn’t realise the full impact of what had happened to me and it took me months before I could speak in sentences again. I have been getting speech therapy at least three times a week ever since I had my stroke. It was one of the therapies that has continued for a long time after my discharge.

My original Occupational Therapist that treated me when I was admitted to UCT Private Hospital no longer works there. I can't remember what problems I had when I was initially admitted but I've been told by my Speech Therapist that my biggest problems were with:

My physiotherapist was at UCT Private Hospital and she has given me information about how I was on admission and what we did in treament. My whole right side that was affected by the stroke.

In-patient

• Support and Counselling
• Work
  

Out-patient

• Counselling
• Disability Grant