Aphasia is a neurological disorder that makes communicating through language extremely difficult. Sufferers have trouble speaking, reading, writing, and understanding what other people are saying. Some people with aphasia even have trouble with the comprehension of numbers. There are many horrible effects of this lack of communication.
It can be a frustrating time for both the individual with aphasia as well as their group of family and friends. It is important to remember that aphasia is a symptom and not a disease.
Fun fact: “aphasia” comes from the Ancient Greek word for “speechlessness.”
Signs of aphasia:
- Consistent repetition of words or phrases
- Inability to pronounce and form words, understand language, read, write, name objects and speak freely
- Excessive paraphrasing
- Incoherent speech
- Use of incomplete sentences
Severity of aphasia
Some cases of aphasia are incredibly severe. They can be so severe that communication is practically impossible. Situations such as these are difficult and, thankfully, rare. Other cases are mild and can be overcome quite easily. Aphasia can affect one small aspect of language or all aspects of language and communication. It is more common for multiple aspects to being impaired but not typical for all aspects of language.
What are the causes?
There are many causes of aphasia. The most common cause is stroke, but other neurological conditions have been linked to this disorder. These conditions include head injury, infection, tumor, and Alzheimer’s disease. Any incident in which the communication areas of the brain are damaged can potentially cause aphasia.
Aphasia is associated with damage to the brain’s language areas, such as Wernicke’s and Broca’s. The language areas are typically in the left hemisphere, but on some rare occasions, they can occur in the brain’s right hemisphere.
What are the main types of aphasia?
There are many classifications of aphasia, and the different subtypes have caused experts to disagree greatly. The current classification system is still not entirely adequate, but the main types of aphasia are as follows: Expressive, Receptive, Anomic, and Global.
- Expressive aphasia is the loss of language-producing capabilities. People suffering from expressive aphasia know what they want to say but have difficulty saying it or writing it down. They may speak in short sentences, omitting many words. An example would be a person with expressive aphasia saying “go walk” instead of “I want to go for a walk.” The person knows what they want to express, but they don’t know how to express it eloquently. Expressive aphasia is also sometimes called “non-fluent” aphasia.
- Receptive aphasia is the inability to understand written and spoken language. A person suffering from receptive aphasia can speak normally but has trouble understanding others and trouble with meaningful expression. They will likely speak in sentences that mean nothing and may create new words without meaning. Receptive aphasia is also sometimes called “fluent” aphasia.
- Anomic aphasia is the inability to remember names and words. A person suffering from anomic aphasia can speak properly but will have trouble remembering key phrases or appropriate words. It’s like having a word on the tip of your tongue constantly. Of all classifications of aphasia, anomic aphasia is the least severe. A person with anomic aphasia will speak in a way that makes sense, but it is typically riddled with empty and meaningless speech.
Global aphasia is a severe form in which the patient cannot read, write, speak or understand speech. Global aphasia is caused by extensive damage to the brain’s language areas. Some people with global aphasia can only use hand gestures and facial expressions to communicate with others. They cannot produce many functional words and understand almost nothing that is said to them. This type of aphasia is devastating.
Is aphasia always an instant symptom, or can it take a while to progress?
Aphasia can, on some occasions, develop slowly. This is usually more common in cases caused by Alzheimer’s disease or by a brain tumor. Since the most common cause of aphasia is stroke, most cases occur suddenly and can shock patients and their families.
Who can get aphasia?
Any person is susceptible to acquiring aphasia. Not even children are immune from this symptom, but most people with aphasia are older. Women are affected by aphasia equally as often as men and people of all nationalities.
How many people suffer from aphasia?
About a million people in the United States suffer from aphasia. That’s around 1 in 272 American people. The National Aphasia Association claims that about 80,000 people acquire aphasia after a stroke a year.
What is the treatment process like?
Aphasia is treated with extensive language therapy adapted to each patient’s needs. Treatment usually involves a speech pathologist working with the patient in recovery. Some patients can recover language skills without treatment, and some go through years of treatment but never fully recover. It is best if patients begin treatment as soon as possible. There is no known “cure” for aphasia.
In recent years, the incorporation of computers in treating aphasia has gained popularity. Computers allow for more intense and effective treatment. Most stroke patients will recover from aphasia within a few months. Anything longer than a few months is problematic, as the patient has little chance of fully recovering.
Communication-based therapy
Communication issues can be a frustrating part of aphasia. Communication-based treatments help the person to convey what they are trying to say via alternate communication. A person with aphasia is encouraged to use language to the best of their ability but is also given the freedom to express themselves through other means.
Impairment based therapy
In impairment-based therapy, the immediate problem is tackled head-on. The main goal of a person with aphasia is often to get back to everyday speech and communication habits, so impairment-based therapy is a popular therapy method for aphasia patients. This kind of therapy helps the patient to speak as well as possible with minimal frustration.
The downfall of this therapy is that many aphasia patients cannot communicate fully when relying solely on verbal and written communication. Sometimes, exploring other means of communication can be a helpful part of treatment.
Is there any way to prevent aphasia?
Who can take some precautions to lower an individual’s risk of stroke, which can lower the risk of aphasia? These include:
- Regular exercise
- Maintaining a healthy blood pressure
- Healthy eating
- Avoiding tobacco
- Minimal alcohol consumption
Does a person with aphasia still think in the same way?
Quite a few people with aphasia know what is happening in the world. They are capable of understanding things and often have the desire to be involved. They desire close relationships with other people but usually have trouble forming these bonds because of their inability to communicate with language.
People with aphasia are still intelligent and productive human beings. Some people with aphasia may need to change their lives to cope properly. Some become incapable of maintaining their jobs due to a lack of communication skills.
What is deaf aphasia?
There is a type of aphasia associated with deaf individuals. Sign language is a type of communication that uses the areas of the brain that are also used in verbal communication. Since sign language is processed so similarly to verbal language in the brain, there have been instances of aphasia in deaf patients.
Aphasia and bullying
One unfortunate thing about the world is that a condition that makes a person different from others can often make them a target for bullying. Aphasia is no exception to this. Aphasia is a highly isolating condition on its own, and torment from other people can make it even worse.
Many people overcome aphasia, but the torment and frustration felt before and during treatment can stay with those individuals forever. There are even online communities where people who have suffered from aphasia can share their stories and connect.
Communities like these have proven to be helpful in the healing process. People write stories of their experiences with aphasia, and there is a sense of unity within these communities. It is fantastic to see people with previous language impairments who can write eloquently about their struggles with aphasia.
It is one more glimmer of hope that a person with aphasia will one day overcome this communication barrier and be able to speak and write fluently. The best thing to do for a person with aphasia is to make sure they understand that you are there for them no matter what.
Be patient and kind, and include them in as many situations as possible. The isolating nature of this condition can make life more difficult than it should be. Still, a group of understanding and compassionate people can make the most significant difference.
Disorders related to aphasia
Many communication disorders are closely or loosely related to aphasia. Patients can suffer from these disorders alone or with aphasia. Some of these disorders are confused with aphasia when they are different disorders entirely. The treatment of each disorder differs, so it is vital to determine if a patient truly has aphasia or instead has a similar disorder.
- Dementia – is a condition in which many aspects of cognitive function are impaired. These include intellect, personality, and memory. Dementia is a broad category of neurological diseases. Language impairment is common but is usually seen as less important than the intellectual loss seen in most dementia patients.
- Apraxia – the collective term for the impairment of movements. A person with apraxia cannot perform common gestures such as hand shaking or waving when requested. Apraxia isn’t usually too much of a complaint because it involves copying movements or creating meaningful movements upon request so that it can be hidden away by other issues.
- Dysarthria – a group of a few speech disorders that result from slowness or weakness. They involve a speech production disorder and not a language disorder.
Coping with aphasia
It can be difficult for the family and friends of an aphasia patient to understand what their loved one is going through. The changes associated with this disorder are most often sudden and entirely unexpected.
It can be frustrating and scary for the person with aphasia and their loved ones. Adjustment is seldom easy, and the condition can bring a sense of hopelessness and dread. There are apparent communication obstacles, but there are still ways to cope with this condition. Often, the person with aphasia can still communicate on some level.
- It is essential to be patient and avoid interrupting a person with aphasia. Family members should remember to select an environment free of external noise or distractions.
- They should speak with slow, concise sentences and ask questions that Who can answer with yes or no.
- They should avoid correcting the person regarding verbal and written speech.
- Sometimes, pictures or props can make communication easier. Even symbols like thumbs up or thumbs down can make a big difference in communicating with a person with aphasia.
- Writing down keywords is sometimes effective in bringing clarity to a sentence.
- Tools such as a tablet or computer can also be practical. Family members often need to be creative in effectively communicating with a person with aphasia.
- It can be helpful to repeat what the person is saying or what you think.
- Family members should remember to maintain appropriate expectations for the recovery of the person with aphasia.
- It’s also essential to involve the person when making decisions. Families should avoid making significant changes during the early treatment process of aphasia.
- Who should seek out additional counseling as necessary?
