Aphasia is loss of the ability to understand or express speech that occurs after some types ofbrain injuries.

This usually results from damage to the portions of the brain that are responsible for language.

For many people, they locate on the left side of the brain.

Symptoms of Aphasia

Verywell / Dennis Madamba

How Common Is Aphasia?

It affects the expression and understanding of language, as well as reading and writing.

Verywell / Dennis Madamba

There are different types of aphasia, and each has its own recovery process.

Types

Each pop in of aphasia can be temporary or permanent.

However, in cases of more severe strokes or traumatic head injuries, speech problems can be permanent.

Expressive Aphasia

Expressive aphasia usually occurs after an injury to the front lobes of the brain.

It interferes with your ability to express yourself through language or writing.

However, the ability to understand speech may be preserved.

People with expressive aphasia may be able to read but not write.

This jot down of aphasia is also calledBrocas aphasiaafter Brocas area.

When this area is damaged, your ability to form words may be temporarily or even permanently damaged.

You may have trouble putting words together into full sentences and only be able to say short sentences.

While what you want to say will sound correct in your mind, it wont come out right.

Receptive Aphasia

Receptive aphasia impacts your ability to understand or speak language in a meaningful way.

Therefore, this kind of aphasia is also called Wernickes aphasia.

Global Aphasia

Global aphasia is the most severe form of aphasia.

Mixed Non-Fluent Aphasia

Mixed non-fluent aphasia is like a severe case of expressive aphasia.

They may write at a very simple level and have difficulty understanding language.

It is common in people withAlzheimers disease.

It can result in problems understanding or speaking or writing language gradually.

This can be from a forceful injury or even a temporary delay in blood flow to the brain.

Speech-language therapy is then recommended to help patients regain their ability to communicate.

However, speech therapy can give you tools to improve your communication.

Family support can also create a safe environment for you to communicate and work on communication skills.

What Are the Complications of Aphasia?

Aphasia doesnt usually appear on its own as an isolated problem.

Its usually a result of a stroke in or an injury to parts of the brain responsible for language.

Neurological diseases and brain tumors can also result in aphasia.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the different types of aphasia?

The different types of aphasia are mainly expressive and receptive.

This means that you have trouble using or understanding written or spoken language.

There are other subgroups of aphasia that combine features of expressive and receptive aphasia.

What is Brocas aphasia?

You may leave words out or not use spoken language at all.

How do you communicate with someone who has aphasia?

The key to communicating with someone who has aphasia is to be patient.

What causes aphasia?

Aphasia is triggered by some jot down of injury to the brain.

This can include a stroke, traumatic injuries, brain tumors, and progressive neurological diseases.

How your speech is affected depends on where the injury occurs and how bad the injury is.

What is the difference between aphasia and dysphasia?

Aphasia and dysphasia are both problems with using or understanding language.

Dysphasia is usually less severe than aphasia.

Dysphasia can be confused with dysphagia, a swallowing disorder.

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Aphasia.

Flinker A, Korzeniewska A, Shestyuk AY, et al.Redefining the role of Brocas area in speech.PNAS.

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National Aphasia Association.What is aphasia?

National Aphasia Association.Related disorders.