Although each patient's and family's situation is different, Tanner (health sciences, Northern Arizona U.) focuses on sensitivity and simple techniques families and professionals can use to work with contact with those suffering from communication disorders, especially those caused by strokes. He has included new case studies as inspiration as he describes how strokes can impair the ability to communicate, the nature of the loss of language (including aphasia and naming mistakes), motor speech disorders, complications such as panic attacks and perceptual disorders, loss of awareness, including memory problems, the process of thinking without language, depression and anxiety. He gives tips on maintaining relationships, accepting unwanted change, and going through speech and language rehabilitation, and gives real-life stories of caregivers and patients in recovery and materials on aphasia support groups. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)