TBI and living in silence.

My tbi back in 1983 pretty much rendered my silent. My own vocabulary has been limited for 37 years. I only have a few short phrases like Hi how you doing have ya had a good day. Proper adult conversation doesnt happen for me I spend my time just trying to keep up but I soon lose track and forget it all. My limited speaking causes me extreme anxiety and embarrassment especially when people pause and wait for my input. Thing is I dont have any input to give as I cant find the right words or forget the conversation as soon as it started.

What are your experiences struggling with conversation of any kind??

[pinkvision]

That is very familiar. Aphasia and speech centre issues combined. You can reboot or redevelop this. Why have you not been sent to a speech therapist?

This is how I solved the problem. Learn a new means of communication. I chose touch typing. It's like training the brain to learn a new language but you already know the language. Rather it is stimulating areas of the brain by learning a new skill associated with language. The aphasia aspect can be overcome by repetition of language and it's associated components.

Sit down every day and learn to touch type (or anything else you choose) once you have mastered it your fingers are talking for you directly from the thought. However this is where the aphasia throws a spanner in the works, but by repeatedly trying, your linear thought patterns redevelop. Remember the brain is plastic so anything repetitive creates neural pathways.

Next how to transfer this to speech itself. Develop a system where you think a thought, type it out, then say the phrase out loud multiple times. Do this for every sentence or paragraph. Then go and do an associated task physically. Eg, think and type what you are going to have for breakfast, how are you going to make it, what are the steps to take etc. So think these things, touch type them, say it out loud, go and make your breakfast while at the same time talking through all the procedures. Then type it out and say it and start on the next task.

You will probably be able to do many of these things already but they may not be linked together. So by repetitively going through this procedure you train everything to be functional and linked up together.

You have to be committed, it takes a few months. If you stop then you need to start all over again.

It worked for me, hope that helps.

[Hidden in reply to pinkvision]

Thankyou for your comment and insight into this problem. I'm new to all this as I have spent my life in denial and hid my disability from everyone for 37 years through sarcasm and humour until 5 months ago when I had Bells Palsy for no apparent reason since then I've had to open up to family about my disability. I havent worked for over 3 years due to my tbi. I try so hard everyday to change my speech problem but it doesnt change anything I will try what you have suggested as I'm desperate to improve my condition. Hopefully once the right support is in place for me I can start to live a happier more structured life. Thanks again your feedback is much appreciated 👍👍

[Leaf100]

Practise.I got penpals... they can be talked to via snail mail or email. They will teach you chit chat, if you get stuck you can google ideas. Globalpenfriends is a good one with few scammers. The free version only allows you to conact 1 potential pen pal per 12 hours. It is enough.

Practise listening. Evening sports report is good as they are very repetitive. Black and white old movies on youtube are also good.

Play kids games online there are sites you can play for free, time management, hidden object, ones that make chains like cradle of persia.

Read out loud. Maybe read a long with an audio book.

Try learning a new language - Duolingo has a free version and is one of the best for French and Spanish which are relatively easy for English speakers. You speak and it tells you if it understood you. So, it is conversational without an actual human. Good practise. They also have actual stories and conversations, too. Learning it in another language can make saying it in your own easier -it all works those language muscles.

Ask Headway about groups. You will find a lot of people with bi struggle with conversations and keeping up.

Therapists are great and you don't have to wait around for them, either.

Leaf

[DTBI]

I had my TBI back in 2014, and my vocabulary has been a challenge since, particularly when I recall how good it used to be in my previous existence. The way I helped it most was by writing a book, a couple of years after the TBI. This did cause me to pretty much wear out a dictionary, but I used my instinctive thoughts when writing and had to check them nearly all the time to check the word i was using meant what I instinctively thought it did.

I did and still do struggle to have group chats with people I simply can't keep up with them. What I try and do if I know I'm meeting folks is just nod my head and smile if it is something comical and I do try and talk at me pace about a particular topic they might find interesting, e.g. football.

I think the secret is if it worries you the best thing you can do is exercise your brain as much as possible with things you would enjoy. Reading certain books, magazine's, newspapers etc. Over time this will help strengthen your words.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do

👍

[Hidden in reply to DTBI]

Thankyou for your valid insight into this problem I find I am able to use a touch pad and I communicate via messenger or email..me and reading and writing just dont mix I lost the ability to join up writing in high school..the academic stuff has been a real struggle for me since about a year after my accident in 1983. I'm learning so much about tbi survivors and their own struggles in life..my BI is like an old friend these days good and bad lol..thanks again 👍