I thought it might be something like that. It’s likely more frustrating for him than for anyone else.
I had a great uncle who was a doctor. After his death, I was at his home with my great aunt and several of his friends. One gentleman who was there, who was also a doctor, had suffered a stroke, and his speech was greatly impaired. He and I engaged in conversation, but it was so difficult for him to make himself understood that he bacame dejected, and gave up. I felt horrible for the guy; you could tell that there was this perfectly functional mind in there, just aching to interact with others, but totally frustrated in the attempt. I thought to have him write a few key words as he spoke to enable my ear to become accustomed to his manner of speaking, but wasn’t able to talk with him, again, before he and his wife left.
It is very frustrating for people who can’t speak clearly. We have a gentleman in the parish who had a stroke a couple of years ago, and his speech has remained impaired. (He also can’t walk.) He obviously understands what’s said, but generally responds with Yes or No.
Father Hawker doesn’t have speech difficulties yet, but he’s quite hard of hearing, and does repeat himself. When he retires, he plans to go home to Boston and live with his brother.