Will they get better? Communication problems are very common after a stroke. Around one-third of stroke survivors have problems with speaking, reading, writing and understanding what other people say to them.
A person with stroke may be unaware of his or her surroundings, or may be unaware of the cognitive, emotional, and/or behavioral problems that resulted from the stroke. Some people will experience a permanent decline in cognitive function known as vascular cognitive impairment (VCI).
After a very serious stroke, someone can be unconscious or in a coma for some time. In a coma, the person has very little or no awareness of what's going on around them. Locked-in syndrome is a very rare condition where someone is conscious, but unable to move or speak.
Most stroke patients are unaware of the warning signs of stroke and present late because they misjudge the seriousness of their symptoms. Even when patients know that they are having a stroke, most do not seek immediate medical attention.
If the nerve control to your eye muscles is affected, one of your eyes may not move correctly. This may give you blurred vision or double vision (diplopia). This is sometimes called a squint or strabismus. This can make it hard to focus on objects and cause moving images and / or double vision.
Many people have problems with their memory after a stroke, especially in the first weeks and months. It often affects short-term memory more than long-term. Someone might find it hard to remember something they have just been told.
Stroke impacts the brain, and the brain controls our behavior and emotions. You or your loved one may experience feelings of irritability, forgetfulness, carelessness or confusion. Feelings of anger, anxiety or depression are also common.
Changes in your emotions and to your personality are common after stroke. It's very normal to experience strong emotions after stroke, however these emotional reactions usually get better with time. Longer-term emotional and personality changes can be very challenging.
Even after surviving a stroke, you're not out of the woods, since having one makes it a lot more likely that you'll have another. In fact, of the 795,000 Americans who will have a first stroke this year, 23 percent will suffer a second stroke.
A person is just as smart as they were before the stroke, and they can think clearly. But they struggle to use or understand language. There are many types of aphasia with different symptoms. Some people with aphasia can understand language, but can't speak.
Adults who have the condition as a result of stroke or brain trauma can be retrained to use other clues to identify individuals. Prosopagnosia can be socially debilitating as individuals with the disorder often have difficulty recognizing family members and close friends.
A stroke can sometimes lead to hallucinations or delusions, and may happen in up to one in 20 people. Some symptoms can start soon after a stroke, but they can also start weeks or months later.
Common physical conditions after a stroke include: Weakness, paralysis, and problems with balance or coordination. Pain, numbness, or burning and tingling sensations. Fatigue, which may continue after you return home.
Cognitive problems are usually worst during the first few months after a stroke, but they can and do get better. They're likely to improve most quickly over the first three months, as this is when your brain is at its most active, trying to repair itself.
Brain cells in that area become damaged and can no longer function. Depending on which part of the brain has been damaged, the skills lost after the stroke may include motor skills, speech or sensory perception.
When a stroke occurs, it will cause brain damage depending on its location. These changes can lead to speech difficulties, full or partial paralysis, mental confusion, and other impairments in the body. The impacts of a stroke, and how they affect mobility and quality of life, are often quite visible.
Stroke can sometimes damage the parts of the brain that receive, process and interpret information sent by the eyes. This can result in losing half the field of vision – for example, only being able to see the left or right side of what's in front of you. Stroke can also affect the control of the eye muscles.
“You don't have to be at 100% health to return home after a stroke,” says Raghavan. “If you can perform most of your regular daily activities in your home environment and/or you have family support to assist with these activities, you can go home.”
Although just 10% of people fully recover from a stroke, 25% have only minor impairments and 40% have moderate impairments that are manageable with some special care.
Weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, usually on one side of the body. Trouble speaking or understanding. Problems with vision, such as dimness or loss of vision in one or both eyes. Dizziness or problems with balance or coordination.
Recovering physically, mentally, and emotionally
“Rehabilitation helps stroke patients relearn skills that are lost when part of the brain is damaged,” Nguyen says. “These skills can include coordinating leg movements to enable walking or mastering the steps involved in any complex activity.