Why You Don’t Have to “Just Live With It” – Real Help for Speech Changes

“You’ll just have to live with it.”

Have you heard this before?

Maybe from a doctor. Maybe from a well-meaning friend. Maybe even from yourself.

When your speech changes after a health condition like stroke, Parkinson’s, brain injury, MS, or MND, it’s easy to feel like nothing can be done.
You can still speak, kind of. So people assume it’s fine. Or they say, “That’s just part of getting older.”

But here’s the truth:
You do not have to just live with it.

What Do We Mean by “Speech Changes”?

You might have noticed any of the following:

• Slurred or mumbled speech

• Speaking too quietly

• Flat or monotone voice

• Slow or fast rate of speech

• Struggling to find the right words

• Mixing up words or losing track mid-sentence

• Getting tired or breathless when speaking

• Being misunderstood, ignored, or spoken over

These changes can feel frustrating, isolating, and even embarrassing.
It may feel easier to stop talking altogether. But that can lead to loss of confidence, loneliness, and loss of independence.

The Biggest Myth: “It’s Too Late to Do Anything”

This is simply not true.

Even months—or years—after a diagnosis, injury, or illness, people make progress.
With the right support, you can rebuild communication skills, strengthen your voice, and feel more confident in daily life.

Why Speech Changes Happen

Speech involves a complex system of muscles, nerves, and brain pathways.
Health conditions can affect:

• Muscle strength (causing slurred or weak speech)

• Breathing control (leading to short or quiet sentences)

• Brain processing (making it harder to find or say words)

• Memory and focus (causing you to lose track of conversations)

Different conditions cause different types of speech problems, including:

• Dysarthria – Weak or uncoordinated speech muscles

• Aphasia – Trouble understanding or using language

• Apraxia – Difficulty planning and making the right speech movements

• Hypophonia – Very soft or faint speech (common in Parkinson’s)

Real Help Is Available

You don’t have to accept struggling to communicate.

Speech and language therapy can help you:

• Improve clarity and confidence

• Strengthen your voice and breath control

• Practice everyday conversations

• Learn ways to support memory and word-finding

• Reduce frustration and anxiety around speaking

• Support your loved ones to communicate better with you

“But I Had Therapy on the NHS—It Was So Short!”

Many people receive only a few therapy sessions, often early after diagnosis or hospital discharge.
While that’s a great start, communication recovery takes time—especially when living with progressive or long-term conditions.

Ongoing, tailored support can make a big difference—even if it’s been months or years since you last had help.

You Deserve to Be Heard

You might have a condition that’s changing your speech—but that doesn’t mean it has to control your life.

• You can laugh and chat with your family again.

• You can join conversations without feeling anxious.

• You can order food in a café with confidence.

• You can speak up and feel like yourself again.

Don’t Settle. Take the First Step.

If your speech has changed—and it’s affecting your confidence, relationships, or daily life—you don’t have to put up with it.

There is help. There is hope. And there is a way forward.

📞 Want to Feel Heard Again?

Book a consultation with a specialist speech therapist today.
Let’s find the right support for your voice, your communication, and your life.