Learn how to help someone before, during and after a stroke
If you or a loved one has experienced a stroke, you know that seconds count. In honor of National Stroke Awareness Month, we’ve put together some helpful information about how to recognize, respond to, and recover from a stroke.1
Recognize the signs of stroke
Strokes happen to people of all ages. A stroke occurs when a blood clot, blockage or rupture prevents blood from getting to the brain. Without oxygen-rich blood, brain cells die.
The most important thing to remember when it comes to recognizing a stroke is the F.A.S.T. acronym:
F – Face drooping
A – Arm weakness
S – Speech difficulty
T – Time to call 911
Respond when someone is having a stroke
As soon as you notice any of these signs of stroke, call 911. Trained paramedics can begin caring for the person in the ambulance and call ahead to the hospital so they can receive stroke treatment as soon as they arrive. The American Stroke Association says, “Time lost is brain lost,” so don’t wait and see, or try to drive yourself to the hospital. Make that call!
Rehabilitation after a stroke
It’s common for people to have physical, mental and emotional changes after having a stroke. Physical symptoms like weakness or paralysis on one side of the body, fatigue, muscle spasms, and seizures may respond well to physical or occupational therapy and medications. A speech therapist can help with difficulty with communication, speech and swallowing. Those with emotional or behavioral changes may benefit from talk therapy (counseling) or medications.
Hearing loss and stroke
Sometimes, depending on the part of the brain that is affected by a stroke, a person may have sudden hearing loss and vertigo or balance issues. Your receptive (understanding what you hear) and expressive (being able to say the words you want to say) language skills can also be impacted by a stroke.
An audiologist can help with these issues by providing a full vestibular workup to understand how your stroke may have impacted your hearing and balance. You may need hearing aid adjustments or new hearing aid technology that provides you with the best possible support for your hearing and balance needs.
Many people also experience what’s known as auditory overload after a stroke — a feeling of being overwhelmed by the amount of sound signals coming in at once, even though the sounds around them may be similar to before the stroke.
That’s why it’s important to be proactive in addressing any concerns with your hearing as soon as they arise. Untreated hearing loss can compound the difficulties someone suffers after a stroke. For example, if you have difficulty with both hearing and processing sounds, it will be even harder to make progress toward recovering your speech and language skills. Or if you can’t hear instructions from your physical therapist in rehab, you may become frustrated more easily.
Researchers have also discovered a connection between sudden sensorineural hearing loss and increased risk for stroke in people over age 60.2 It’s always a good idea to have sudden hearing loss investigated immediately by an audiologist or medical professional to determine the root cause and begin any interventions that may help with both the hearing loss and your overall health.
Prevent strokes with a healthy lifestyle
While strokes can cause long-term disability or even death, there are many ways to adjust your lifestyle and reduce your risk of stroke. These include:
- Avoid or quit smoking.
- Eat healthy foods that are low in saturated fat, trans fat and salt.
- Stay active and maintain a healthy weight.
- Limit alcohol to 1 to 2 drinks per day.
- Take medications as directed by your health care provider.
- Check your blood pressure regularly.
- Reduce stress.
- Have regular medical checkups.
- Aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night.3
We’d like to suggest you add “get regular hearing checks” to that list! Having an experienced audiologist on your team can have a significant impact on improving your ability to communicate, whether or not you are personally impacted by stroke.
Make an appointment with Associated Audiologists.
With a supportive community of family, friends and health professionals, stroke prevention and recovery is possible.
References
- American Stroke Month. American Stroke Association.
https://www.stroke.org/en/about-the-american-stroke-association/stroke-awareness-month - Oussoren, F.K., Schermer, T.R., Horn, L.R. et al. Assessing risk of stroke after idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss using data from general practice. Sci Rep 14, 10026 (2024).
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-59934-3 - Lifestyle Changes to Prevent Stroke. American Stroke Association. August 2022.
https://www.stroke.org/en/-/media/Stroke-Files/Lets-Talk-About-Stroke/Prevention/Lifestyle-Changes-to-Prevent-Stroke.pdf?sc_lang=en
