With my TBI, I have trouble pronouncing longer words now. When I'm reading something out loud, I hit a certain word and sometimes I have no problem the first time, but when I see that word again, I get tongue-tied. It's almost as if I'd never heard the word pronounced before.
Speech is an amazingly complex activity. You have to coordinate your breathing, your voice, and all the muscles of your lips, tongue, and throat to say a word or sentence. Reading out loud adds yet another step to the process. After a TBI, your brain may have more difficulty programming all these steps. This is called apraxia. Words that are long ("hippopotamus") or less common ("pagoda") can be harder to say. Some sound combinations are harder to say than others (for example, "splinter" may be harder than "better"). This problem is even more frustrating because it doesn't happen every time you say the word — it's unpredictable.
Try some of these tips to get "unstuck":
- Go slowly. Your brain needs more time to program your speech muscles.
- Rehearse. If you have to read something out loud, read it silently first.
- Break it down. Divide a long word into smaller parts and say each part before putting it back together.
- Take a break and try later. If you're tired or can't say a word after several tries, go back to it later.
About the author: Janet Brown, MA, CCC-SLP
Janet Brown, MA, CCC-SLP spent twenty years in practice at the Veterans Administration Medical Center and at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, DC. She is the former director of Health Care Services at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Comments (7)
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Caroline Wells replied on Permalink
I got TBI from a near fatal car accident in Nov 2012. I was in the hospital a while and then a rehab facility. I don't remember the hospital stay at all and only a faint recollection of the rehab facility. I use to be a big talker but after the accident I would get younger tied, couldn't pronounce words some words out loud but could in my head, and I'd lose words. I wouldn't really talk much cause I was so embarrassed!!! Its been almost 5 yrs since the accident and I've gotten a lot better but I still have these problems just not as severe. But they r still there.
Anonymous replied on Permalink
I was hit by a 4 wheeler. I suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury. I hit the frontal lobe of my brain. It's been over 10 years. I still have issues pronouncing certain words and when I speak I tend sometimes to get tongue twisted. I never took rehab so that might be a major factor too.
Anonymous replied on Permalink
I had a TBI in June this year (2016) during auto accident. Initially for a week or so speaking seemed normal. As time lapsed I knew something was very wrong. I had trouble saying many words, as the day wore on my speech declined. I also have trouble speaking on the phone, recently I had a customer ask me to put someone on who could talk. Several people I hadn't seen from before my auto accident got teary eyed, and one cried after hearing my labored speech for the first time since my accident. For some reason I didn't realize just how bad it was. I do have some hope for others, I've been noticing improvement during morning hours and lately into afternoon hours. My Dr prescribed a non narcotic sleep aid which has made a great impact. Now I'm sleeping 8+ hrs at night rather than a couple hrs, I wake more clear headed and speaking somewhat better, at least until I get mentally tired. Rest has been key in my personal circumstance, prior to sleeping 8+hrs I would struggle with words as soon as I awoke. Since the sleep aid I've experienced a noticeable improvement. Although I might not ever be the good speaker I once was I have improved resulting from 8+hrs of sleep nightly.
Anonymous replied on Permalink
I have that problem and I can sometimes whisper the words, this brain shearing takes on different issues and I find myself constantly saying "I'm Sorry" when on the phone.. I have actual had people tell me to call back when I'm sober. It hurts, but they don't understand.
Anonymous replied on Permalink
Thank you for the much needed reminder, to read slower. Even in day to day activities I have to remind myself "slow is fast", because once I get discouraged it is a difficult hole to get out of.
Anonymous replied on Permalink
My brain has a tuff time when I hear numbers or have to count , anything with numbers . My brain repeats and adds extra and I get overloaded . I am in Speech Therapy now trying to quit repeating, so hard . I am exhausted after an hour . Thanks for sharing . G.L.F.
Anonymous replied on Permalink
ABI or TBI no matter which, is an awful lot of work to overcome, I know because I've been working on getting better too! Keep up the good work everyone!