Abstract

In this article the circumstances of people with communicational disorders in the context of risk factors and resilience are analyzed. Those people form today around 15% of the world population, 2.2–3.8% of this population suffers from a severe type of such a disability, which makes this group an interesting subject to conduct research on. The situation will continue to deteriorate because of the process of ageing ongoing in European societies.

Communication disabilities are the main theme of this article. They cause severe stress psychological consequences by hindering or preventing the creation of mutual interpersonal bonds. Problems resulting from them burden not only the patient, but also their closest relatives: family members, relatives, friends.

Many of these conditions result from different neurological diseases – a few principal are described in this article. Communication disabilities caused by neurological diseases are analyzed as a risk factor for the psychological health of a patient and their family as well. It has also been proven that good family relationships and a positive attitude are main protective factors for both those groups of individuals.

Three case studies are presented. They concern patients with neurological illnesses causing communicational disabilities and patient's care as well. Their situation is analyzed according to the ICF classification in the context of risk factors, possibility of positive adaptation and psychological resilience.

Key words: aphasia, third party disability, patient, career, communication disorders, chronic illness, risk factors, resilience

In 2011, the WHO and the World Bank published the World Report on Disability which also refers to the problem of communication disorders. It is estimated that people with communication disorders form about 15 percent of the worldʼs population (approx. 1 billion) among whom between 22 and 38 million (approx. 2.2–3.8 percent of population) suffer from a severe form of this disability.

A chronic neurological illness will be analyzed in the article as a potential mental health threat in the context of psychological resilience. It is defined as one's ability to cope with life difficulties, daily stressors, also with extreme or long-term burden. A person demonstrates their resilience especially when they go through some hard life experiences without significant psychological damages or when they successfully recover from crises caused by them (Borucka, Ostaszewski, 2008).