🎵 “It’s Tricky” – EOA When Words Stop Working (Run-D.M.C.)
Updated: Aug 22
It’s tricky…(to rock a rhyme...)
👉 To understand
👉 To explain
👉 To not lose your mind some days
Because this part?
👉 This is where communication breaks down
🧠 What Is Aphasia? (In Real Terms)
Aphasia is:
👉 A language disorder
It affects the ability to:
Find words
Understand words
Speak clearly
Follow conversations
🗣 What It LOOKS Like in Real Life
Saying the wrong word (“spaghetti” becomes “sagani”)
Pausing mid-sentence
Talking around a word they can’t find
Getting frustrated trying to explain something
Nodding like they understand… but they don’t
👉 And the hardest part?
They often don’t realize it’s happening (and they "gaslight you" into thinking you are the one who cannot understand.)
😵 Why This Is So Hard (Especially Younger Onset)
With Early Onset:
👉 They still look “normal”
👉 They still function in many ways
So when communication breaks…
👉 It feels confusing, frustrating, and sometimes… personal
💥 The Emotional Side
This isn’t just about words.
It’s about:
Losing connection
Losing conversation
Losing humor
Losing that back-and-forth
👉 And that hurts
🧠 Types of Aphasia You Might See
(Keeping this simple—because that’s how we live it)
🔹 Word-Finding Aphasia (Most Common Early)
“Tip of the tongue” constantly
Substituting wrong or made-up words
🔹 Receptive Aphasia
They hear you… but don’t understand
Instructions get lost
🔹 Expressive Aphasia
They know what they want to say
But can’t get it out
👉 Most people are a mix of these
🧩 How You Start Adapting
This becomes your new normal:
✔️ Keep It Simple
Short sentences > long explanations
✔️ One Question at a Time
Too many words = overload
✔️ Give Them Time
Don’t jump in too fast (even though you want to)
✔️ Use Visuals
Pointing, showing, gestures = HUGE help
✔️ Don’t Correct Everything
Let some things go aka "Let that shit go!"
👉 It’s not worth the frustration
🗣 Can Therapy Help?
👉 Yes—especially early on
🧠 Speech Therapy (Key Support)
Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) can help with:
Word-finding strategies
Communication techniques
Caregiver training (THIS is huge)
🧩 What Therapy Focuses On
Slowing speech
Using alternative words
Practicing conversation patterns
Teaching YOU how to respond
👉 It’s not a cure—but it helps maintain function longer
💰 Does Medicare Cover This?
👉 Yes—under many conditions
✔️ Medicare Part B
Typically covers:
Speech-language therapy
When medically necessary
With a doctor’s referral
✔️ What You May Pay
Deductible
~20% coinsurance
⚠️ Important
Therapy must be:
👉 Ordered by a doctor
👉 Documented as necessary- My friend and I will do a separate post on this, she has some great tools to offer we have used with Rob.
💡 What Helped Us Most
Honestly?
👉 Changing how I communicate
Slowing down
Simplifying
Letting go of “normal conversation”
💛 The Hard Truth
You will miss:
Deep conversations
Quick jokes
Easy communication
👉 That part is real
🎵 Final Thought
“It’s tricky to rock a rhyme…”
Yeah…
👉 It’s tricky to hold a conversation too
💛 My Advice
Learn their patterns
Adapt your communication
Use support early
And most importantly:
👉 Don’t take it personally
💬 Disclaimer
I’m not a doctor, lawyer, therapist, or expert—just a wife trying to figure this out one day at a time. Everything shared here is based on our experience and things that have helped us along the way. Take what helps, leave what doesn’t, and always check with professionals when needed. I also use AI to help clean up my writing, organize thoughts, and pull together resources because honestly… caregiver brains are tired too. If something here helps another family feel less alone, then it’s worth sharing.
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