As Betsy comes to terms with new diagnosis, what are aphasia and dysphagia?
Betsy was struggling to understand the medical terms
Coronation Street aired a new update in Betsy Swain’s stroke storyline tonight (Thursday, July 16), as she was given two new diagnoses.
After suffering from multiple strokes this week, Betsy’s doctor gave her an update on her condition.
Despite the concerning news, Betsy was relieved to know that she was expected to make a full recovery.
Betsy given two new diagnoses in Coronation Street
In Weatherfield tonight, Betsy was dealt another heartbreaking blow as she learned the full impact of the two strokes she’d suffered. Doctors explained she now has aphasia and dysphagia, meaning speaking, reading and writing could all be difficult, while weakness down the right side of her body will also take time to overcome. The silver lining? With physiotherapy and plenty of patience, she’s expected to make a full recovery.
Meanwhile, Lisa was struggling just as much with everything that had happened. Hoping for a quiet moment, she instead found herself confronting Dylan in public, accusing him of assaulting Betsy during sex. Sean was left stunned, admitting he had no idea what had happened before telling Dylan that strangulation was dangerous and certainly not something ‘everyone did.’
Back at the hospital, Lisa told Carla she was reporting Dylan to the police. Despite Betsy pleading with her mum to stop, Lisa stuck to her decision and headed straight to the station to report the alleged crime.
Aphasia and Dysphagia explained
Betsy was diagnosed with two conditions tonight. The first was aphasia. Aphasia is described on the NHS website as a neurological condition that affects communication.
It is especially common in stroke patients and affects the patient’s ability to write, read and speak.
There isn’t a known cure to the condition but the symptoms usually improve over a period of time.
The second condition that Betsy was diagnosed with was dysphagia. The doctor explained that Betsy would experience some muscle weakness on the right side.
The condition can affect a person’s ability to swallow and also causes bad coordination and sensory loss. This can make consuming food unsafe as the risk of aspiration is increased.
Due to Betsy being young, her doctor said that she should make a full recovery. And, a rapid one. But, the journey to getting back to ‘ the old Betsy’ will be a difficult one.
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