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You are here: Home / Blog / What is aphasia?

What is aphasia?

July 13, 2018 By Admin Leave a Comment

I hadn’t heard of Aphasia until mum went into hospital and I saw it on the bottom of her chart.  The chart that nobody ever read before caring for her.

Once I knew what it was, it was like a lightbulb going off in my head.  Finally, I knew what to call that thing going on with her speech and language.

So – What is Aphasia?

Aphasia, also sometimes called dysphasia, is a  language and communication condition that is caused by damage to the language centres of the brain by injury or illness such as :

  • strokes
  • head injuries
  • brain tumours
  • other brain conditions such as dementia
  • infections

Aphasia is commonly linked to strokes, but only around a third of those who have a stroke, also suffer with Aphasia.

Symptoms of Aphasia

People with Aphasia have many different symptoms, but tend to struggle with expressive language.  Some of the symptoms overlap with those of dementia, and although common with dementia, the two are different problems for those with dementia.  Coupled with memory loss and difficulties remembering how to do things, they might also struggle with:

  • speaking
  • reading
  • writing
  • understanding what others say
  • using numbers to add, subtract, multiply or divide
  • understanding bills, money and timescales
  • telling the time

People with Aphasia may still be able to think correctly, but will struggle to form the response in the correct order.  To make it even more unpredictable, it doesn’t affect everyone in the same way.

How is Aphasia diagnosed?

A speech and language therapist, or a doctor may suspect Aphasia and will carry out tests.  The tests can be similar to the simple questions asked by a doctor for dementia suspicions, but they are looking for comprehension rather than forgetting how to do something.  A person can have Aphasia without dementia.When Aphasia is suspected, a person may be asked to:

  • repeat words and phrases back to the professional
  • asking them to read and write, to check their responses make sense
  • naming objects via images or items in the room
  • count backwards

The professional is looking to find out how much a person:

  • understands of what they are being asked
  • understands simple speech and grammar
  • understands simple commands and can follow them through
  • expresses words, phrases and sentences in response
  • concentrates on a conversation
  • reads and writes letters, words and sentences appropriately
How is Aphasia treated?
If brain injury, brain damage or dementia is included, there may be little to do, and the condition may progress with time.
Where intelligence remains intact, speech and language therapy can help people to regain some normality to communication and understanding.
Aids might be suggested, like notes, computers, smart phones
Speech and language therapy is the main type of treatment for people with aphasia.This aims to help restore some of your ability to communicate, as well as help you develop alternative ways of communicating, if necessary.

You may receive speech and language therapy on an individual basis or in a group, depending on your needs and the service provided.

In the circumstances where Aphasia is caused by dementia, treatment may be more limited, as it must concentrate on what they can already do, as trying to teach something new is likely to cause problems.

What Problems Might Aphasia Cause?

  • Where dementia is involved, aphasia means that speech and language might be muddled.  They might know what you say and know what they want to say, but their brain muddles up the words and it can come out as gibberish.
  • You may be speaking too fast, with too long sentences, or not giving them enough time to process what you’ve said, and be able to form a reply in their heads.
  • People with Aphasia might become isolated and anxious, because they cannot communicate their needs with others.
  • Depression may result.

If someone you know with Aphasia enters hospital, it will be beneficial for it to be written at the very front of their notes, and on the board above the top of their bed, so that everyone who communicates with them, understands their problems.

Filed Under: Blog, Related Conditions

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