Adult Aphasia

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What is adult aphasia?

It is when a person has difficulty expressing their thoughts and understanding what is being said or written. Aphasia is caused by brain damage; it is often seen in stroke patients or in head injuries.

What are some language problems associated with aphasia?

People with aphasia have difficulty understanding what is said to them and expressing their own thoughts. They also have reduced ability to read, write, use gestures and numbers. Their speech may be limited to objects or actions, short phrases or simple words. Often, speech consists of single-word sentences, as in a telegram. Word order may not be correct, so it is difficult to understand what is being said. Sometimes sounds and words change, for example the patient may say "chair" instead of "table" or "plug" instead of "tooth". He may even produce the meaningless word "difç" instead of "tooth". The most well-known feature of aphasia is naming difficulties. For example, a person with aphasia may know what to do with a toothbrush, but may forget what it is called.

Why do people with aphasia take so long to respond to questions?

People with aphasia need extra time to understand what is being said to them. They hear the words, but may not suddenly remember what the word means. To the person listening to people with aphasia, it may sound like they are being spoken to in a foreign language. Patients also need to think of the words they want to use.

When people with aphasia think of the word they want to use, do they remember it immediately?

They often forget the word as soon as they say it and have to remember it again when they need it. For example, they have difficulty remembering the names of their children. They may have said it many times, but after a few minutes they may not be able to say it again.

Is the use of stereotypes typical for people with aphasia?

Yes, they often remember swear words, numbers, days of the week, common automatic responses such as "yes", "no", "I'm fine", "thank you". Do not criticize people with aphasia for swearing. They often do not realize that they are saying something inappropriate.

What other problems can strokes or head injuries cause?

Some people may have trouble sounding out words exactly. They pronounce them badly, mixing syllables together. They may be more emotional than before. For example, they may feel embarrassed more easily and cry and laugh out of proportion. They may be confused and forgetful.

What are some of the physical problems associated with brain damage?

Aphasia is usually caused by damage to the left half of the brain. If one half of the brain is damaged, the opposite half of the body is affected. People with aphasia have weakness in their right arms and legs. Vision may be affected. In a minority, epileptic seizures may occur.

What is spontaneous recovery?

As the body heals on a physical level, some people with aphasia regain the ability to write and speak. Improvement can take days or up to six months and beyond. The sudden improvement in the acute phase is called spontaneous recovery.

What kind of help is suitable for people with aphasia?

What aphasia is and its consequences should be explained to both people with aphasia and their families. A speech-language pathologist, a professional trained to master's and doctoral level, will carry out an assessment and prepare a therapy program. Although few people recover completely, people with aphasia can be helped through speech therapy.