How can I communicate more effectively with a person with right hemisphere brain damage?
• Ask questions and use reminders to keep the individual on topic • Avoid sarcasm, metaphors, etc., when speaking to the individual • Provide a consistent routine every day • Break down instructions to small steps and repeat directions as needed • Decrease distractions when communicating • Provide appropriate supervision to ensure the person’s safety • Stand to the person’s right side and place objects to the person’s right if he or she is experiencing left-side neglect • Use calendars, clocks, and notepads to remind the person of important information To contact a speech-language pathologist, visit ASHA’s Find a Professional.
