• Be patient and reassuring. Not fully understanding communication can cause the person with dysphasia confusion and anxiety.
  • It is important to reduce distractions and noise levels – these can make it more difficult for the person to understand.
  • Be aware that even if the person nods and appears to show understanding, they may not actually fully understand what has been said or what they have read.
  • Use short and simple utterances.
  • Do not speak rapidly, slow down a little, but not so much that the person may feel you think they are ‘stupid’.
  • Give the person extra time to work out what they have heard or read.
  • If the person does not understand, repeat or rephrase into a simpler sentence. Explain one idea at a time e.g:
    • Not helpful and potentially difficult to understand language: ‘We are going to go out for a walk and when we are out we can pick up some shopping and we can go for a coffee if you want’.
    • More helpful: ‘We are going out’ (pause and give person time to respond if they wish) ‘For a walk’ (pause), ‘We will get shopping’ (pause) ‘Do you want to go to a cafe?’
  • Explain things in a logical order, for example:
    • Not so helpful and too complex to be easily understood: ‘before we go for a coffee, we will go for a little walk, but first get your coat.
    • More helpful: ‘Get your coat’ (pause and give person time to respond if they wish) ‘We are going for a walk’ (pause) ‘Then we will have coffee’.
  • Sometimes writing things down simply and clearly can help understanding. The person will have more time to decode permanent, static written words than transient verbal language.
  • Use of pictures can sometimes be helpful to explain things.
  • Use gesture and clear non-verbal communication to support the person to understand.
  • Follow advice from a Speech and Language Therapist about how best to support understanding.