trouble speaking (words do not come out)
 

I had few good days where I could speak easily. Words were flowing out of my mouth. It was amazing. now I am back to struggling to get any word out (actually I am struggling just making any sounds, like I have trouble reading out loud). What is causing this. Is it just foggy brain or extreme pain? Does anyone have this?

It's aphasia, I think. Maybe Google it and see if it sounds like what you're experiencing. I have slight aphasia now, but I can speak...I just say the wrong words sometimes. Like, I'll know the word I want to say, but something else comes out.

Mine is triggered by stress and activity causing fatigue. I have been assessed by a SLP last week and I could barely function, let alone find words, after those session. Brain drain.

I struggle with this, too. It's pretty common after TBI. As the others have said, it tends to get worse when I'm tired or stressed.

I worked with a Speech Language Pathologist, for several months, and, while not perfect, I improved considerably.

Stress is often the cause of this getting bad. During non-stress times, you may do much better but at the first struggle, you get frustrated and up your stress level and crash. Your anxiety over the NPA has likely added to your stress levels recently.

My wife and I learned to make light of my struggles, especially since many times I would come up with words and such that were plain silly, if you looked at the struggle with a sense of humor.

A term for this mess up some of us have used is 'Brain fart.' Their are embarrassing and we can't believe they came out of us.

My best to you.

Are you taking Lipitor or any statins for high cholesterol?
Or have you tried any upper cervical /C1C2 adjusting yet?

I had a similar problem with my RSI/TOS injury (neck/shoulders), but i was on Lipitor at that same time. So not sure which was the larger factor in my voice/speech/cognition issues.

words...
 

I get this too...my voice changes, and the wrong words come out...sometimes I struggle to come up with the right word too. This is scary, I am committed to be in a play next week. I so hope I can do it.

dawn,

You need to commit your lines to memory so they are second nature. If you have to think to say them, you will be more likely to struggle. The term is 'over-learned skill.' An over-learned skill will be much more able to be recalled during times of stress.

A drama teacher put it this way, You can not give away your lines until you make them yours first. This is all the more important for those of us with memory/cognitive issues.

My best to you.

not on any meds right now, although I am in a lot of pain today. I am scared to take meds. my brain is so messed up :(

do you find that written communication is easier? (perhaps because I can take my time?)

I am finding verbal communication really challenging also because my listening skills are out of whack.

Yes, I prefer writing to speaking. I did the former professionally, before my TBI, so my hold skills are pretty good. As you say, it gives one the chance to compose the message in our own time, without interruption (I lose my train of thought when interrupted) and can be checked before it's sent.

Whenever possible I write, limit the number of participants in a face to face verbal exchange and avoid the phone like the plague.

I initially had a great deal of trouble with this. I would even forget what I was talking about mid-sentence! It is better now, but I still have mixed-up words daily word finding problems every day. I also have a funny problem where everyone in my family is now "Bill" (my husband's name), and I don't know why I do this! It's great though, because everyone just answers, "which Bill?"!!!

I have begun to read out loud better since getting my prism glasses, but I still have those pauses where my mouth wants to say the word, but nothing comes out. Just try not to get too stressed by this, because then it just seems to get worse.

I do believe it is just fatigue or stress related, as mentioned by others here. I prefer to write rather than speak, too.

OH MY GAWD, I have that too. My mouth wants to say it, but nothing comes out or it is such a struggle to get it out even though I know exactly what words I want to say.

I was way worse before Attention Processing Training. Before APT, if something entered my visual field, I'd just incorporate it, unconsciously, into my conversation. For example: "Your fly called. She'd like you to go to your sister's birthday party."

I only knew I'd had a slip because of the strange, puzzled looks I'd get.

It still happens, but not as often.

OMG. so sorry, Hockey. man. is this concussion stuff for real... is this actually happening???!!! really? this is my life???!!!

Yes, it's real, but the takeaway message is that it can get better.

APT helped me regain the ability to ignore extraneous stimulation. Among other things, I had to do this exercise where I had to focus on one message, while others were mumbled in the background. At first, it seemed impossible, and I thought I'd go bonkers, but, now, if necessary, I can conduct a coherent conversation in a busy location.

I have incorporated humour into it whenever possible with my family. I used to have long pauses while my mind "tried out" some possible words for what I wanted to say. Now I just say them out loud and sometimes it's hilarious what I can come up with. "Can you pass me the kitchen, no shelf, no plate, no glass. Yes, glass."