Laura Thorburn, M.S., CCC-SLP
Communication is the cornerstone of health. It allows us to connect with others, express our thoughts and ideas, and make our needs known. But when someone has a stroke or brain injury, finding words can sometimes feel impossible. That can lead to feelings of frustration and isolation.
Thankfully, loved ones can provide cues to help bridge the gap—so stroke recovery becomes a conversation, not a guessing game. Using these simple cues every day, alongside speech therapy, can build the person’s confidence and speed up their progress.
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Get startedHow cueing helps in stroke recovery
According to the American Stroke Association, communication challenges, such as trouble finding words, are common after a stroke. But when your loved one is having a hard time expressing themselves, the least helpful strategy you can use is to say the word for them. When we do this, it robs the person of the chance to generate the word on their own.
In contrast, using cues in communication can help with language recovery. Cueing means offering just enough help to spark the speaker’s own efforts. This builds their brain’s ability to retrieve words, leads to more independence, and bridges the gap in communication.
Cueing means providing small hints and offering just enough help to spark the speaker’s own efforts.
With cueing, the communication partner provides small hints, only offering more help if needed. Cueing is all about that sweet spot: neither too easy nor too hard.
Cueing can’t take the place of speech therapy, which is highly valuable for people with aphasia or those recovering from a stroke or brain injury. But for meaningful improvement, the techniques learned in therapy need to be used every day, not just during sessions. That’s why it’s so critical for family and friends to learn how to use cueing with their loved one.
Types of cues to try with a person recovering from a stroke
There are several ways to give the person a hint and guide their brain to find the word they want to say. Here are four types of cues to try:
Visual cues: Cues you can see, such as lip shapes, pointing, and miming
Verbal cues: Cues you can hear, such as the first sound or syllable in a word
Written cues: Cues you can read, such as showing the word on paper or a screen
Tactile cues: Cues you can feel, such as handling an object related to the word
Here’s a real-life cueing example
Imagine that the person is having a hard time retrieving the word “May.” Try these cues:
1. Offer a visual cue: Press your lips together as if to say “m.”
2. Wait a few seconds.
3. If the person is stuck, offer a verbal cue: “It starts with mmmm…”
4. Still stuck? Offer a written cue: Point to “May” on a calendar.
Notice the power of offering minimal support. If you give too much help, the person won’t grow their skills. But if you offer too little? Frustration wins.
Use communication cueing during everyday routines
Every conversation is an opportunity to work on language skills. A simple chat can become speech therapy if you do it right! During regular conversation, look for cueing moments, like recalling the names of people or objects.
After a stroke, people may also have difficulty with memory and cognition. These cognitive problems can overlap with communication difficulties. Our guide to 10 strategies to help with memory problems and forgetfulness offers practical tools that work well alongside cueing.
Talking with the person about a variety of topics will help them grow more confident in communication. Remember to celebrate their small successes. When your loved one finds a word on their own, even with your cues, you both win. That little spark boosts their mood and keeps the conversation flowing. These moments matter more than you might think!
Work with your loved one’s speech therapist
Cueing doesn’t replace a speech therapist’s guidance—it enhances it. If you’re ever not sure how much help to give, ask your loved one’s speech therapist. They can teach you the ideal balance of support and challenge.
The speech therapist should encourage you to attend therapy appointments with your loved one, too. That way you can learn how to help them at home between sessions. At Expressable, caregiver coaching and involvement is a core part of our therapy model. And because speech therapy is online, you can join from wherever you are. Learn more in our treatment guide to aphasia and our treatment guide to cognitive communication disorders.
Using strategic cues in communication turns everyday moments into meaningful progress. You don’t need to be perfect—just consistent and thoughtful. Keep practicing with visuals, sounds, and written hints. With the right cueing, every conversation can become a step forward.
How Expressable Can Help
Concerned your child isn't reaching age-expected milestones? Looking for communication support from a professional? Expressable is a national online speech therapy practice serving children and adults. We treat all major areas of communication and feeding, offer flexible hours including evenings and weekends, and accept most major health insurance plans. We’re proud to have earned more than 3,000 5-star reviews from our clients (4.9/5 average).
Our therapy model is centered on parent and caregiver involvement. Research proves that empowering caregivers to participate in their loved one’s therapy leads to better outcomes. That’s why we combine live, 1-on-1 speech therapy with personalized education and home practice activities for faster progress.
Communication is more than words. It’s how we share how we feel and show who we are. We’re here to help you or your child do just that.
