Life With Aphasia: I Lost The Ability To Communicate, Now I'm Fighting To Regain It

In 2016, Nicholas Tan suffered multiple strokes in a horrific road accident, which severely damaged his brain’s language faculties. Although his intelligence was intact, he woke up unable to read, write, or even recognise numbers.
He has aphasia, a communication disorder that affects one’s ability to express and comprehend language. The invisible condition is caused by brain damage typically as a result of stroke, trauma, or early onset dementia.
“You can tell from his facial expression he understands, but the moment he opens his mouth, the words just come out as one word,” said his mother, Pauline Tan, 65.
Although speech therapy has helped him to recover basic language skills over several years, Nicholas remains socially withdrawn, having lost the confidence to hold conversations at length.
Now, at 40, the former entrepreneur attends non-profit group Aphasia SG’s Chit Chat Sessions that provide persons with aphasia (PWA) a safe space to practise speaking and fight loneliness.
“Even though we know it's not the equivalent of talking to a mental health professional … he gets to meet people his age who also have the same condition,” said Evelyn Khoo, a speech therapist who founded Aphasia SG.
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[@timcarosi7043]

I have aphasia and had to to very similar for my language and speech. After almost five years, I still work with clinicians and speech to help my recovery. Nicholas, It is slow and hard work. Your are doing so well.

[@summerc.5369]

For someone who's had to relearn the alphabet and numbers after the accident in 2016, Nicholas has made great strides in regaining his language skills. He is young and still has a lot of firing power in his brain to make connections and reprogram itself. Besides, he has a very good support system, including his parents, family, and speech therapist. Thank you for spreading awareness about this condition, CNA.

[@zaizaimum5575]

Thank Nicholas and family for sharing your journey with us. Your perseverance is inspiring. With the gift of speech, I hope we will not take it for granted and be mindful of using kind words with one another.

[@fansizhe9997]

Well said!!!👍🙏😍I agree with you!!!🙏🙏🤩

[@yogitriyuniardi2071]

I have an aphasia in my 2nd stroke. Now i can't teach in my 49 years old. I wanna give up, but i believe God still want me to live. Amen.

[@Jay-ru2cw]

Thanks for sharing this wonderful story… It create an awareness of this community. Grateful towards the group of volunteer speech therapy who organizes the monthly chit chat session for people like Nicholas. Hope that more companies can support these good causes too. May Nicholas and his parents stay healthy and strong.

[@Jakemp3-w9u]

I can only know the depression someone could feel from such an incident. I will never understand the true difficulty and suffering one must feel, but I hope that they can have better lives from the improving noninvasive neurotechnology in the recent years, so that they can communicate much more freely in the near future

[@sleepy_dobe]

My heart breaks for them. I can only imagine the frustration they feel inside, knowing that they still possess the intelligence to do and accomplish a lot more but the condition is hindering them. Can you imagine, knowing you have the knowledge and capability to do something, but yet are not able to do it or even explain it to someone else so they can do it? It kills you from the inside. The psychological pain they go thru' everyday. I applaud Aphasia SG's efforts to help them manage and relearn how to speak and recognise words, but I wonder if there is anything else that can be done to better integrate aphasia sufferers into society so that they may perhaps feel a better sense of self-worth, dignity and independence.

[@alicia_hohoho]

I feel so proud of him and all his progress :,) Nicholas you can do it!

[@Xffern]

The first thing that comes to my mind is how annoyed I get with people who are unable to convey their meaning across in the right phrases or even fast enough. I will remind myself to be patient so that I don’t add on or worsen when they are already having such a hard time. How much effort does being patient or showing empathy takes….

[@somethingaboutbeaute]

Very brave of you to admit. Most people wouldn’t. 👍🏼🙂

[@corymorris798]

You get annoyed? Try being the person who cannot get the message out. My communication skills have become so bad that I don’t go out

[@speaklifegardenhomesteadpe8783]

​@@corymorris798 I'm learning about this for a family member. I'm wondering if learning sign language would help because it forms me neuro pathways and gives an alternative to language. When I'm under stress my mind knows what I'm trying to say, I see it even, but words fail me and it's... Well... You seem like you know very well how it feels. Encourage yourself in time with God and know if others were in your shoes they'd have eyes to see and understand, maybe if we were in their shoes, we wouldn't. Give grace and forgiveness. Prayers God will comfort and strengthen you. 🙏🏻💜😊💙🥀

[@user-cw4mf1ub9n]

I'm rooting for you Nicholas! Such a heart breaking story and really really touched by the parents and the community for their support!

[@eddiensw]

All the best Nicholas and family. May you find strength and recovery!

[@86_beans]

Wishing you all my best, Nicholas! And such a supportive family too.

[@dougoinsg]

many blessings to you Nicholas, and to your parents. Thanks Aphasia SG for all you do ❤🌈

[@IAm-NotHear]

Hang in there Nicholas. Pulling for you

[@Yacob_mohd]

God bless you & your family Nicholas. You won my heart ❤️

[@agneschua1289]

All the best, Nicholas! You have a loving and supportive family. Tks for the informative video.

[@yeoweehuathuat8926]

Don’t give up! Take baby step ! Be patience.believe in yourself !

[@vinayak7435]

You know what’s great, even though the parents are understandably in grief about his condition, I didn’t for a moment see a hint of feeling of being a victim of misfortune on Nicholas’ face and was constantly trying to improve upon himself like we all should. Respect!

[@TheCatAteMyShoe]

"I love Mommy and Daddy." That's so precious! 🥰

[@IronManGodisgood]

You and your family are in my heart ♥️, thoughts and prayers 🙏.

[@JayJay-st1jj]

I wish all the best to Nicholas and everyone suffering from this :(

[@glovesem8204]

all the best Nicholas

[@mabellee424]

Feel sorry for this family. Thank you for the 💝 of his parents and the community’s help. You can make it, Nicholas with the 💖 from everyone!

[@fisharefriends598]

Stay strong. You are a legend!!

[@nyimachoedon4875]

May God bless you and heal you soon, Nicholas! 🌈 ❤️

[@knock-knockwhosthere9933]

This family is giving me some Dom Toretto vibes. God Bless and All the Best to Y'all.

[@pohyokelo]

I had a temporary episode of aphasia. I can tell it is so very scary.

[@beverlylumley4150]

Wonderful video, be strong, stay safe. Canada

[@josephfong6018]

加油 Nicholas! Best Wishes

[@luisangeloartatesabergas4332]

Aphasia!!! You are so awesome!

[@roymorgan7773]

Praying for you.

[@rashaunjones1027]

I wonder does Bruce Willis knows about this , thank you for informing me it was very interesting.

[@boyan619]

The three most common types of aphasia are: Broca's aphasia. Wernicke's aphasia. Global aphasia1.

[@junlew2296]

Hopes he could make it..

[@corymorris798]

As an adult with a feeding tube I have not been able to find any support for my situation. I struggle with eating orally because of dysphasia. Most sites or support services are specifically designed for children or the caregivers of infants. I feel like an outcast and it’s hard to find any good resources. I am a 33 year old male who was diagnosed with drug resistant right temporal lobe epilepsy. Then recently I was diagnosed with a rare seizure genetic disorder called VPS13A. I have struggled with uncontrollable weight loss. I have been using a g tube for over 6 months and have been struggling to gain or maintain my weight . i am currently on a very vigorous diet and I’m not sure if I can continue to do it without results. I have a follow up with my doctor to discuss my options and I don’t know how to explain that I am exhausted..

[@geraldball8997]

Hope you have a miracle

[@corymorris798]

Learning sign language is an opinion but it requires others to learn it as well. There are many apps that have type to speech options. I have a app that I can use through the phone and type my conversation

[@patnewson6908]

At what point can it be determined that Nicholas has stroke or dementia-related aphasia? My husband, 83, in same situation. Been a year now & he is slightly improved. I hope i’s not dementia. Nicholas is several years along - is it still possible he has dementia?

[@AphasiaHomeExercises]

Glad to hear your husband has made progress in his recovery! Aphasia can be caused by many different things. People with dementia can experience aphasia, but there are many people with aphasia who do NOT have dementia. Talk to your family's doctor about your husband's symptoms!

[@shannoncarmody3805]

Sign language and music maybe helpful in combination and or maybe by themselves. A speech therapist and or doctor

[@hectorkeezy1633]

I have had two bloodclots in my brain . It is a hard thing to deal witth… 🇩🇰💁🏻‍♂️🇩🇰🐶

[@donorTrumpet]

More like his language partition got reformatted. Need many years to learn them back.

[@d3fnubatm]

Sad

[@junc2191]

Oh no

[@jovimathews]

What can innocent help, if she/he has a narcissist somewhere else

[@roymorgan7773]

Fight

[@kinw5548]

Scalp acupuncture can help.