Interacting with someone who has difficulty speaking or understanding

Imagine one of your close friends, Mark, has had a brain injury. Since the brain injury, you have noticed that when you visit Mark to catch-up with him, he:

• Struggles to find things to talk about in conversations
• Finds it difficult to remember and talk about details of his life (e.g., what he did on the weekend)
• Takes a long time to respond to questions
• Does not ask you questions about what is happening in your life
• Seems to get tired quickly and loses his focus on the conversation

You have another friend, Stephanie, who has been working overseas and has not seen Mark since his brain injury. Stephanie is back in town and planning to catch up with Mark next week.

What tips would you give Stephanie about having a conversation with Mark?