Aphasia is a language disorder that makes communication difficult. People with aphasia have trouble reading, writing or saying what they intend to communicate. Some forms of aphasia cause difficulty in understanding other people’s spoken or written speech, as well.

According to the National Aphasia Association (NAA), aphasia affects about 2 million people in the United States, making it more common than Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy. Each year, about 180,000 new cases of aphasia occur in the U.S.

Aphasia is caused by a brain injury, often due to stroke. In fact, about 25-40% of stroke survivors acquire aphasia. Other causes of aphasia include traumatic brain injury (TBI), brain tumors, brain surgery or brain infections.

Types of Aphasia

There are four main types of aphasia:

• Expressive aphasia affects the ability to express thoughts in speaking or writing.

• Receptive aphasia makes reading and understanding speech difficult. A person with receptive aphasia can see words on a page and hear others speak, but they struggle to make meaning from the words.

• Global aphasia results in the loss of almost all language ability. A person with global aphasia has difficulty speaking, writing, reading and understanding speech.

• Anomic or amnesia aphasia causes difficulty in finding and using the right words.

Aphasia’s effects range from mild to severe, but all forms of aphasia involve difficulty in communicating. “For people with aphasia, is important to note that only their ability to process language is affected, not their intelligence,” said JoAnn Ovnic, speech-language pathologist with Aultman Therapy Services.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Aphasia is diagnosed through language tests conducted by a licensed speech-language pathologist. Other diagnostic tools include imaging studies such as CT scan, MRI scan or positron emission tomography (PET scan).

Treatment for aphasia is also provided by licensed speech-language pathologists. At Aultman Therapy Services, speech therapists create individualized treatment plans to address specific areas of need. “The goal of treatment is to improve the person’s ability to communicate effectively in all environments in which they live, work, play, worship and socialize,” Ovnic said.

Recovery from aphasia varies, but patients often see the most improvement during the initial weeks and months of treatment. Whether people with aphasia can return to work depends on their ability to communicate with others and the level of lingering effects.

Tips for Communicating

Family members and friends of a person with aphasia can help by continuing to include them in conversations and decisions. Here are a few guidelines:

• Get the person’s attention before starting a discussion.

• Reduce distractions and background noise by turning off the television or other devices.

• Speak at a normal conversational volume and give the person time to speak. Be patient as they search for the correct word, and resist the temptation to finish sentences for them.

• A person with aphasia may find that gestures, drawings and facial expressions help get their message across better, so watch for those cues.

If you suspect that you or a loved one may be experiencing a form of aphasia after a brain injury or stroke, talk to your healthcare provider about diagnosis and treatment options. For more information about aphasia, visit the Aphasia section of Medline Plus.

Sources:
Aultman Health System
MedLine Plus
National Aphasia Association
The StayWell Company, LLC