Aphasia

Aphasia is a language disorder, which can affect an individual’s ability to recall words, as well as comprehend or express verbal or written language. Aphasia is primarily the result of a stroke, though it may also be caused by other traumatic or degenerative disorders causing damage to the parts of the brain that control language. The location and severity of the stroke, or the progress of the degenerative syndrome will affect which linguistic capabilities remain intact for the individual.

There are four main types:

• Expressive aphasia – you know what you want to say, but you have trouble saying or writing what you mean
• Receptive aphasia – you hear the voice or see the print, but you can't make sense of the words
• Anomic aphasia – you have trouble using the correct word for objects, places or events
• Global aphasia – you can't speak, understand speech, read or write

Some people recover from aphasia without treatment. Most, however, need language therapy as soon as possible.