Article: Mark - The Importance of Being Able to Speak and Communicate

The Importance of Being Able to Speak and Communicate

By Mark A. Ittleman, M.S., CCC/SLP

The Teaching of Talking

December 18, 2012

Many of us have learned the old adage:  You can never truly understand how a person feels, until you walk in his moccasins.  A very true expression that can also have deep implications.

Speech Language Pathologists, and others in health care have learned how to treat a problem without having to get emotionally involved.  These are experiences that are often difficult for any health care provider when first starting out in their professions.  We learn how to "distance" ourselves emotionally from devastating difficulties that often confront the clients and patients we see.  Unfortunately sometimes we can be distanced so far emotionally, that we cannot see the pain and agony behind human suffering and therefore are unable to address it with vigour.

The ability to communicate is so vital to the experience of living and happiness.  Speaking and communicating help us deal and share with others; we must be able to express important needs.  When those abilities are lost, it can even affect the desire to live.

This week my world was rattled; an E mail from  a woman who had purchased The Teaching of Talking in July.  I would like to share portions of it with you:

Hi Mark, I just got your book "The Teaching of Talking" in the mail and can't wait to read it! My husband had a stroke in 2010 and he has aphasia.  He is getting slowly better, but of course the speech is the slowest. I have been told that almost the entire left side of the brain is gone... But he can get up, take a shower, dress and feed himself and watch tv and basic things now. He still can't talk very well or read or write very well... Hope those things will improve. Wanted to say hi and look forward to learning more from you and your book.  (July 2012) 

Well, none of this matters now... My husband recently committed suicide. He was never able to adjust to being trapped in his own body and not able to communicate.  I wish somebody could have helped him.  (November 2012)

As loved ones, care givers or health care professionals we might not always be aware of the true feelings of loss that are experienced by those who have suffered from a stroke and aphasia.  We must be constantly vigilant that losing the ability to speak or communicate can be devastating, and we must do everything possible to help those with speaking difficulties recover the ability to talk and communicate.

I have been pondering what else I could have done to prevent this and what we can do to prevent a situation like this in the future.   Your comments are welcomed.  Mark

markittleman@teachingoftalking.com