What Is Aphasia?

The technical definition for aphasia is “the loss of ability to understand or express speech because of brain damage.” Simply put, aphasia refers to a condition in which an individual is unable to communicate. Primarily, they have problems with expression and the comprehension of language.

Aphasia is often the result of a head injury or stroke. In less common cases, aphasia is the result of a brain tumor or a degenerative brain condition. In these cases, the severity of aphasia is determined by the location and extent of damage to the brain.

Aphasia can vary by type and by the symptoms exhibited. Some of the most common aphasia types include non-fluent aphasia (also known as “expressive aphasia” or Broca’s aphasia), fluent aphasia, and global aphasia.

Some of the symptoms observed in aphasic patients include:

• Spelling errors
• The inability to comprehend conversation
• Broken speech (i.e., sentences that are short, incomplete, or incoherent)
• Literal interpretation of figurative speech
• Speaking in “gibberish” or using words that do not make sense

Aphasia is a condition that requires immediate medical attention. An individual suffering from aphasia should consult a medical professional.

For more information on aphasia, see below: