Brain Aneurysm

An aneurysm in the brain is a bulge or ballooning in a blood vessel of the brain. If the aneurysm gets large enough it can cause pressure on areas of the brain. When a brain aneurysm bleeds or is operated on, serious damage can occur. These influences on the brain can impact communication, cognitive-communication or swallowing function.

The speech-language pathologist is a pivotal member of the treatment team when the patient experiences:

· Speech impairment (difficulties with clarity of speech)

· Language impairment (listening or reading comprehension; expressing verbally or through writing)

· Cognitive difficulties (memory and attention; processing information) impacting the ability to think and have conversations

· Swallowing difficulties

Each patient presents with a unique set of difficulties. The SLP can assist by conducting an assessment and determining an individualized treatment plan to optimize communication and swallowing recovery.