What Is Aphasia?

If someone has a language impairment and has difficulty comprehending speech while also losing their ability to read or write, they are likely suffering from aphasia. It is not a well-known impairment, but one that people should be made aware of and educated on.

Definition

Aphasia is a disorder resulting from a brain injury, commonly resulting from a stroke, head trauma, brain tumor, or infection, that damages portions of the brain liable for language. It can range from severe, where communication is near impossible, to mild, where it may only affect one aspect of language. It can also occur alongside speech disorders resulting from brain damage, like dysarthria or apraxia of speech.

Those with aphasia are most likely middle-aged or older, but it can happen to anyone. A study was done to show that nearly 180,000 people in America acquire it each year.

Causes

Aphasia occurs when there is significant damage to one or more language areas in the brain. It is most commonly caused by a stroke. When a stroke occurs, a blood clot, a leaking, or a burst blood vessel will cut off the blood flow to the brain. This results in dead brain cells that carry essential nutrients and oxygen throughout the body.

A few other causes for aphasia include a severe hit to the head, a gunshot wound, a brain tumor, progressive neurological disorders, or a brain infection.

Types

Regarding types of aphasia, there are two main categories: fluent and nonfluent. Without those categories, there are several types of aphasia.

If there is damage to the brain’s temporal lobe, that will most likely result in Wernicke’s aphasia, the most common type of the fluent category. Those who have Wernicke’s aphasia usually speak in complete sentences that are long and have no meaning to them. There are even times they will create words and use unnecessary ones. It makes it difficult to understand what they are trying to say.

The most common nonfluent aphasia is called Broca’s aphasia. Those who are part of this type have damage to the frontal lobe of the brain. They often show right-sided weakness or possible paralysis of their right arm and leg since the frontal lobe is responsible for significant motor movement. Those with Broca’s aphasia can understand speech and know what it is they want to say, but they are only able to speak in short phrases and will omit words like “is,” “and,” and “the.”

Diagnosis

A doctor can fairly quickly diagnose aphasia as soon as he begins treating the person for the injury to their brain. Many will go through an MRI machine and receive a CT scan to verify the damage to the brain and identify where it is located. The doctor will then test the patient’s ability to speak and understand what is being said. This includes asking them to follow specific commands, naming objects, answering questions, and carrying a conversation.

If a doctor suspects a patient has aphasia, they will refer them to a speech-language pathologist who then conducts a comprehensive exam of their ability to communicate. This includes their ability to speak, converse socially, understand language, express ideas, read, and write.

Treatments

For those who have suffered an injury to their brain, a significant change is happening that will help in the recovery process. People with aphasia will most likely see a dramatic improvement in their communication and language capabilities in the first few months without treatment.

Although it is often beneficial for them to go and see a speech-language therapist to help regain their ability to communicate faster. Studies have shown that one’s ability for language and communication can continue to improve for many years, and sometimes there have been signs of new activity in the damaged area of the brain.

There are many other treatments for aphasia, and specialists continue to study it to understand better and treat it and help more of those who suffer from it.