Find help, hope, and control with an aphasia diagnosis, as we explain everything you need to know about the disorder. We’ll cover what it is, how aphasia is diagnosed and treated, and we’ll answer lots of frequently asked questions too. Find support and understanding and plenty of essential information on the condition. Become part of a global network for health, where a welcoming community of patients, carers, and medical experts work together towards a better tomorrow. This article will provide you with all the information you need on aphasia. You can also join us for free to share your experiences, stories, and concerns about the disorder. It’s a safe space, where together we can help those living with aphasia better navigate their condition.

What is Aphasia?

Aphasia is a language disorder that is caused by damage to certain areas of the brain. If you have aphasia, it can be very frustrating because the condition can make communicating with others quite difficult. Essentially, it causes problems in expressing and understanding language, whether that’s:

• Speaking
• Reading
• Writing
• Listening
• And understanding the speech of others

Aphasia can affect all genders and people of all ages too, although it is typically more common in those who are in their middle to older years. Aphasia is also often the result of another problem, such as following a stroke or a traumatic head injury.

What are the symptoms of Aphasia?

First, it’s important to realise that the disorder can affect everyone differently. Nonetheless, there are still typical aphasia symptoms to look out for. If you have aphasia, you may find:

• You get words mixed up when speaking
• You omit certain words in a sentence
• You have trouble thinking of the words you want to say
• You speak in short incomplete sentences
• You use words in the wrong order, and/or the wrong word
• You use made-up words

Understandably, this can make conversations really difficult. Some of the other main symptoms of aphasia that you may also experience, include:

• Having trouble understanding what others say, especially if it’s noisy or they speak fast
• Struggling to understand figurative speech
• Difficulty in reading and writing
• Trouble with your spelling and writing complete sentences
• Writing sentences that don’t make sense
• Difficulty with numbers and maths

Join Carecircle for free and find help, hope, and control with your aphasia diagnosis. Our global network for health makes you part of a worldwide community where your voice matters. Together, we can work toward a better future.

Types of Aphasia

There are 6 main types of aphasia that can affect different parts of our language and how we communicate. These types are caused by damage to different parts of the brain and each type can have slightly different symptoms.

• Anomic aphasia – typically caused by damage to the brain’s left hemisphere, anomic aphasia often has milder symptoms compared to the other main types of the disorder. Those living with the condition might be able to draw upon all of their ability to speak, read, and understand the speech of others. However, someone with aphasia is likely to find it really difficult to find the right words that they want to use – whether in speech or in writing. This is often the case with names and action-describing words.
• Expressive aphasia – also known as Broca’s aphasia or non-fluent aphasia, this type of the disorder makes it difficult to communicate your thoughts as it can affect your speech and writing. It is often the result of damage to the brain’s left frontal lobe. Signs of expressive aphasia can include difficulty in finishing a sentence, cutting certain words when you speak, getting words muddled up, and struggling to repeat words.
• Global aphasia – this is the most severe form of the disorder, often caused by damage to the left side of the brain at both the front and back. It can massively impair your ability to speak, read, and write, and even affect your understanding of words.
• Mixed non-fluent aphasia – this type often resembles severe expressive aphasia in that it results in difficult and effortful speech. It also has similarities to receptive aphasia (see below) with symptoms such as limited reading and writing ability, and trouble understanding the speech of others.
• Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) – is actually a form of dementia. Although it has aphasia in its name, it’s different from the other types as it’s a degenerative brain disorder. Primary progressive aphasia gets worse over time, whereas other types of aphasia usually don’t. The worsening symptoms of PPA can lead to forgetting the meaning of words, vague and difficult speech, and later on there may also be issues with mobility, memory, and changes in personality.
• Receptive aphasia – also known as Wernicke’s aphasia or fluent aphasia, this type of the condition causes difficulty in understanding the speech of others. It can also affect reading and the understanding of gestures and numbers. Receptive aphasia is usually caused by damage to the middle-left side of the brain.

Aphasia vs Dysphasia

Aphasia and dysphasia are different words for the same condition. In some parts of the world, such as the UK, aphasia is seen as the complete loss of language, whereas dysphasia is used for a partial loss of language. Other parts of the globe, like North America, prefer to just use aphasia, as dysphasia can be confused with dysphagia (a medical term for problems with swallowing).

What causes Aphasia?

The main cause of aphasia is usually a stroke. It can also be caused by any type of damage to the brain, such as traumatic brain injury, brain tumours, and other neurological conditions that get worse over time, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Other issues that can lead to aphasia include:

• Aneurysms
• Brain damage from lack of oxygen
• Epilepsy or seizures
• Infections that cause inflammation of the brain
• Migraines (temporarily)

How do you diagnose Aphasia?

Diagnosis for aphasia is usually carried out by a doctor or a speech and language therapist who will ask the patient to complete a series of tests and a physical exam. These tests take the form of simple exercises, such as describing things in the room, reading and writing, and holding a conversation. On top of that, your clinician may also recommend:

• A Computer Tomography (CT) scan and/or a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan to assess the level of damage to the brain
• Sensory and nerve function tests to rule out the issue isn’t caused by nerve damage or problems with hearing

What to do if you have Aphasia?

If you have symptoms of aphasia, always consult a medical expert to get a professional diagnosis, help, and treatment. There are some other things you may wish to do as well:

• Seek follow-up care and treatment
• Find an aphasia support group
• Carry an aphasia “ID card” to make communicating with others easier
• Find helpful materials on aphasia and help with communication – the [National Aphasia Association](https://www.aphasia.org/helpful-materials/) has lots of useful info here, as well as a list of [helpful apps](https://www.aphasia.org/aphasia-resources/aphasia-apps/) too
• Let family and friends know that you have the condition and have them read the points below…

If you know someone living with aphasia, the following points can be a great help in providing support and understanding. During conversations try to:

• Talk in your natural way in an adult manner – although someone with aphasia has difficulty with language, the condition doesn’t affect their intelligence
• Avoid correcting their speech or finishing their sentences
• Give plenty of time for them to respond
• Reduce background noises and distractions to a minimum
• Avoid speaking too fast, changing subjects too quickly, and making complicated statements
• Encourage all forms of communication, from writing to drawing, and even gesturing
• Use yes and no questions over open-ended ones

Join Carecircle for free and find help, hope, and control with your aphasia diagnosis. Our global network for health makes you part of a worldwide community where your voice matters. Together, we can work toward a better future.

What’s the treatment for Aphasia?

Currently, there is no cure for aphasia, although sometimes treatment of the root cause – whether a stroke or brain injury – can lead to the aphasia-related problems going away on their own. At the moment, the main treatment for aphasia is speech and language therapy. Whilst it can take time before you see results, this therapy is worth the effort as it can help you gain control over your diagnosis. Speech-language therapy can:

• Reduce your language difficulties, helping you to restore as much of your speech and communication skills as possible
• Provide a safe space to practice group communication skills, where you can increase your language activity and participation
• Give you strategies and alternative means of communicating, if required
• Provide further information and support

A new treatment method is also currently in its research stages. Known as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), it is non-invasive brain stimulation, and has shown promising results so far. It may be possible to find clinical trials if it is something you are interested in. If you have symptoms of aphasia or are concerned about the condition, visit your clinician for a professional diagnosis and treatment.

Become part of our global health revolution at Carecircle and find support from others living with aphasia. Share your experiences with the condition and together, we can help one another into a new tomorrow.

Aphasia FAQs

Here, we answer all your aphasia frequently asked questions. We’ll get directly to the point so you can get the health information you need in an instant.

What is aphasia in medical terms?

In medical terms aphasia is a neurological disorder that leads to the loss of language. It is caused by damage to the brain, which can be the result of a stroke or severe head trauma or other issues such as a brain tumour. The condition can make it difficult to speak, read, write, and understand the speech of others.

What is aphasia diagnosis?

Aphasia diagnosis follows a series of basic tests and exercises led by a doctor or speech and language therapist, who will try to understand a person’s language abilities. They may also refer patients to a CT or MRI scan to assess the level of damage to the brain.

What are the 3 types of aphasia?

The 3 main types of aphasia are expressive aphasia, receptive aphasia, and anomic aphasia. Each type is a language disorder caused by damage to the brain, each with different symptoms and severity.

Aphasia Resources

Below are some additional resources and links on the condition of aphasia that patients, carers, and interested individuals may wish to explore. With Carecircle you’re never alone, we’re always happy to point you to additional information that could bring you further help, hope, and control.

• https://www.aphasia.org/
• https://www.stroke.org/en/
• https://aphasiarecoveryconnection.org/
• https://www.asha.org/
• https://tactustherapy.com/
• http://www.aphasiapathway.com.au/
• https://www.aphasiasoftwarefinder.org/
• https://www.aphasiaaccess.org/
• http://www.vohaphasia.org/simulation/
• https://www.youtube.com/user/aphasiachannel/playlists
• https://www.karger.com/Article/Fulltext/494213

If you are living with aphasia, it can be difficult and frustrating at times. Yet with speech and language therapy and a supportive network, you can overcome these challenges and take control of your diagnosis. Take time to find the best ways to communicate with your family and friends that work for you, and share your experiences with others at Carecircle.

Sources:

• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/aphasia/
• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/aphasia/symptoms/
• https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/aphasia 
• https://www.healthline.com/health/aphasia
• https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/aphasia/
• https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/5502-aphasia
• https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/aphasia/symptoms-causes/syc-20369518
• https://www.aphasia.org/
• https://www.stroke.org/en/
• https://aphasiarecoveryconnection.org/
• https://www.asha.org/
• https://tactustherapy.com/
• http://www.aphasiapathway.com.au/
• https://www.aphasiasoftwarefinder.org/
• https://www.aphasiaaccess.org/
• http://www.vohaphasia.org/simulation/
• https://www.youtube.com/user/aphasiachannel/playlists
• https://www.stroke.org.uk/what-is-aphasia/aphasia-and-its-effects#:~:text=What%20is%20the%20difference%20between,used%20to%20describe%20both%20conditions