For subscribers
‘My thoughts are clear, but the words don’t always come out’: Life with aphasia, a language disorder
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Madam Noi (right) with speech therapist Iris Lee, at S3@Jurong Point in December 2025. She attends speech therapy twice a week.
ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY
- Aphasia, a language disorder affecting speech and comprehension, can result from brain damage due to stroke or other conditions.
- Individuals with aphasia use various tools like AAC devices, pictorial booklets, and predictive text to overcome communication barriers and reduce social isolation.
- Support from family, speech therapists and organisations like Aphasia SG, alongside patience and practice, are vital for improving communication and quality of life.
AI generated
SINGAPORE – Madam Suphattra Taengyotha likes meeting new people. She smiles at this journalist and presses a button on her tablet. An artificial voice asks: “How are you?”
The former cook, who turns 62 in 2026 and prefers to be known as Madam Noi, had a stroke just over three years ago. She cannot speak clearly, but can read and spell.
