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NINDS Aphasia Information Page
What is Aphasia?
Aphasia is a
neurological disorder caused by damage to the portions of the brain that
are responsible for language. Primary signs of the disorder include
difficulty in expressing oneself when speaking, trouble understanding
speech, and difficulty with reading and writing. Aphasia is not a
disease, but a symptom of brain damage. Most commonly seen
in adults who have suffered a stroke, aphasia can also result from a
brain tumor, infection, head injury, or dementia that damages the brain.
Generally, aphasia can be divided into four broad categories: (1)
Expressive aphasia involves difficulty in conveying thoughts through
speech or writing. The patient knows what he wants to say, but cannot
find the words he needs. (2) Receptive aphasia involves difficulty
understanding spoken or written language. The patient hears the voice or
sees the print but cannot make sense of the words. (3) Patients with
anomic or amnesia aphasia , the least severe form of aphasia, have
difficulty in using the correct names for particular objects, people,
places, or events. (4) Global aphasia results from severe and extensive
damage to the language areas of the brain. Patients lose almost all
language function, both comprehension and expression. They cannot speak
or understand speech, nor can they read or write.
Is there any
treatment?
In some instances, an
individual will completely recover from aphasia without treatment. In
most cases, however, language therapy should begin as soon as possible
and be tailored to the individual needs of the patient. Rehabilitation
with a speech pathologist involves extensive exercises in which patients
read, write, follow directions, and repeat what they hear.
Computer-aided therapy may supplement standard language therapy.
What is the
prognosis?
The outcome of aphasia
is difficult to predict given the wide range of variability of the
condition. Generally, people who are younger or have less extensive
brain damage fare better. The location of the injury is also important
and is another clue to prognosis. In general, patients tend to recover
skills in language comprehension more completely than those skills
involving expression.
What research is
being done?
The NINDS and the
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders conduct
and support a broad range of scientific investigations to increase our
understanding of aphasia, find better treatments, and discover improved
methods to restore lost function to people who have aphasia.
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