Aphasia

Aphasia is a language disorder that results from damage to the portion of the brain that is dominant for language. For most people, this is the left side of the brain. Aphasia usually occurs suddenly, frequently the result of a stroke or head injury, but it may also develop slowly as in the case of a brain tumor. The disorder may involve aspects of language comprehension and/or expression. Approximately one million people in the United States have acquired aphasia, the majority as the result of stroke. About one third of severely head-injured persons have aphasia.

Aphasia can be so severe that communication is almost impossible, or it can be very mild. It may affect mostly a single aspect of language use, such as the retrieving the names of objects, the ability to put words together into sentences, or the ability to read. More often, multiple aspects of communication are impaired.

Aphasia treatment strives to improve an individual's ability to communicate. The most effective treatment begins early in the recovery process. Major factors that influence the amount of improvement include the cause of the brain damage, the area of the brain that was damaged, theextent of the brain injury, and the age and health of the patient. Additional factors include motivation, handedness, and educational level.

Even with therapy, individuals with severe aphasia may have difficulty communicating even the simplest ideas and needs. Many professionals who work with aphasic patients believe that it is easier for younger individualsto recover language skills than it is for older individuals.

For more information:

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communications Disorders
(800)241-1044 (Voice)
(800)241-1055 (TTY/TDD/TT)
www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/aphasia.asp

National Aphasia Association (NAA)
(800) 922-4622
www.aphasia.org

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
(800) 352-9424 or (301) 496-5751
(301) 468-5981 (TTY)
www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorders/aphasia.htm

07/04