Language and MS

• In this section:
• Language and MS
• Strategies to help

Language and MS

At times you might notice some changes in your language ability which can be quite frustrating.

You may have difficulty finding the word you are looking for, an ‘on the tip of the tongue’ experience. You might know the word you want to use but just can’t seem to get it out. You may notice you misname words, or you may be able to describe the function of an item but not its actual name.

Some people with MS find difficulty with verbal fluency, that is being able to choose the best words to express themselves quickly.

Sometimes you may start to answer a question and then get sidetracked.

Strategies to help

Talk around the subject

• Don’t get hung up on finding the right word
• Getting the message across is what’s important
• Describe it
• Use gestures

If you lose your train of thought

• Take some deep breaths and start again
• Visualise what word you are trying to remember. Some people find it helpful to visualise a blackboard with the word written on it

Try to get a picture in your mind

...of the object, person or idea you want to retrieve

Self-cueing

Try thinking of the first letter of the word you are trying to remember

Working through categories and sub-categories which describe the word or object may lead you to it

Finishing Sentences

Encourage people you know not to tell you the word you are finding it hard to say. This can be very frustrating and cause arguments because people all too often give the wrong word. It may also encourage you to stop trying to find words and allow others to speak for you.

Try 'chunking' information

Grouping different pieces of information into manageable blocks can make it easier to retain and recall.

For example:

A phone number – many phone numbers are 10+ digits so chunking can help. An example the number for your GP is 01513389548 by breaking it down (chunking) 0151 – 338 – 9548 you are more likely to remember it.

A shopping list - how many items can you remember from the list below?

• Carrots
• Chicken
• Lemonade
• Potatoes
• Tin of tuna
• Ribena
• Pork chops
• Sliced ham
• Orange squash
• Onions
• Wine
• Mushrooms

Try chunking the information into groups:

• Vegetables
  • carrots
  • potatoes
  • onions
  • mushrooms
• Meat
  • chicken
  • pork chops
  • sliced ham
  • tin of tuna
• Drinks
  • wine
  • orange squash
  • lemonade
  • ribena

Chunking the information together into groups makes it easier to remember – most people can remember up to 5-7 “bits” of information when “chunked” together

Before sitting down to write

Using key thoughts or words like ‘why’, ‘what’, ‘where’ and ‘how’ can help you structure your thoughts

Key words

Sometimes it can be very hard to get information down on paper in a way that you and others can understand. Using key words can be helpful before you sit down to write a letter, essay etc. For example you want to write to complain about a faulty microwave. The key things you need to include are:

• why you are writing
• what is wrong
• where you purchased it
• how much it cost

Practical example

Download a template to help structure your writing, and a practical example to put it to use