What is Aphasia and what can it affect?

What is Aphasia?

Aphasia is a language condition that affects a person’s ability to speak, read, write and understand language. People with Aphasia find it difficult to communicate and express themselves. It is a hidden disability and has a significant impact on a person's day-to-day life and mental health. 

What causes Aphasia? 

Aphasia is a neurological condition that usually occurs after damage to the part of the brain that controls a person’s language. It is most often the result of a sudden stroke or head injury. It can also develop slowly as the result of a growing brain tumour or a degenerative disease such as Alzheimer's.

Are there different types of Aphasia?

Yes. The most common types of Aphasia are:

Expressive Aphasia - where a person may understand language but has difficulty speaking, writing and finding the words to communicate what they want to say. Expressive may also be known as Broca's Aphasia.

Receptive Aphasia - where a person may be able to speak fluently but struggles to make sense of what others are saying. Receptive Aphasia may also be known as Wernicke's Aphasia.

What can Aphasia affect? 

Aphasia is a complex condition and presents in many different ways. Speech and Language Therapist, Hannah Butters, explores each aspect in more detail and shares examples of how Aphasia may present.

Expression

This may present in different ways. Verbal communication can be slowed, effortful and fragmented. It can also be fluent with a rapid rate but nonsensical resulting in verbal communication not making sense. It can cause difficulties forming sentences or producing long, complex sentences or conversation. It can also impact grammatical elements of speech. 

Example: Producing the wrong word, such as saying the word 'cat' instead of 'dog'

Example: Being unable to name correctly despite knowing what something is - such as being unable to say the word ‘cup’ but can state ‘it is something you drink from’

Understanding (receptive)

A person with Aphasia may be unable to understand or process what is said to them, unable to follow verbal instructions, commands and conversations. It can vary in its severity. 

Example: A person with Aphasia may understand requests such as ‘pass me the phone’ but may find more complex requests like ‘pass me the phone and then write me down a message’ more difficult to understand.

Reading

People with Aphasia may have difficulties with understanding written words, phrases and sentences. They may be able to recognise words and read them aloud however may have difficulty processing the meaning of what they have read. 

Example: A person with Aphasia might be able to read a sentence or paragraph but may be unable to summarise what they have read.  

Writing

Aphasia can also affect a person’s ability to write. They may have difficulties with spelling, organising ideas, using punctuation and producing well formed, grammatically correct written pieces.  

These are just some examples as Aphasia is a complex condition and the presentation will vary from person to person. If you would like to explore this further with a member of our team, please email info@aphasiasupport.org or call us on 0300 102 3500.