• Slide 1 of 16: Aphasia has made headlines in recent weeks following celebrated actor Bruce Willis’s announcement that the condition would be ending his career. What do we know about this language disorder? What are the symptoms? What treatments are available? Here’s a 15-point overview.See photo on Twitter
  • Slide 2 of 16: Aphasia is an acquired language disorder that makes speaking and understanding what others say difficult. It can be partial or total. These difficulties are not caused by mental, auditory, or emotional problems, but rather brain damage in the areas responsible for language.

    Aphasia defined

    Aphasia is an acquired language disorder that makes speaking and understanding what others say difficult. It can be partial or total. These difficulties are not caused by mental, auditory, or emotional problems, but rather brain damage in the areas responsible for language.

  • Slide 3 of 16: Aphasia is not present at birth, but appears following an event affecting language skills. Those who manifest a similar disorder since birth are more likely to suffer from dysphasia.

    Not to be confused with dysphasia

    Aphasia is not present at birth, but appears following an event affecting language skills. Those who manifest a similar disorder since birth are more likely to suffer from dysphasia.

  • Slide 4 of 16: There are two types of aphasia: fluent (or Wernicke’s) and nonfluent (or Broca’s). The first affects the ability to understand a sentence, while the second affects the way someone expresses themselves. Each type involves a different part of the brain.

    Two forms of the disease

    There are two types of aphasia: fluent (or Wernicke’s) and nonfluent (or Broca’s). The first affects the ability to understand a sentence, while the second affects the way someone expresses themselves. Each type involves a different part of the brain.

  • Slide 5 of 16: Global aphasia occurs when a person loses almost all of their ability to speak, understand, and write. This means that damage has occurred in the left temporal and frontal lobes, where the regions responsible for language, known as Wernicke’s and Broca’s areas, are located.

    Global aphasia

    Global aphasia occurs when a person loses almost all of their ability to speak, understand, and write. This means that damage has occurred in the left temporal and frontal lobes, where the regions responsible for language, known as Wernicke’s and Broca’s areas, are located.

  • Slide 6 of 16: Anomia describes a difficulty naming specific objects and presents as an inability to recall or pronounce a particular term. In contrast, someone with conduction aphasia is unable to repeat sentences, expressions, or words they hear. They may use the wrong word or utter a meaningless sequence of words, all while maintaining fluid speech.

    Two variants: Anomia and conduction aphasia

    Anomia describes a difficulty naming specific objects and presents as an inability to recall or pronounce a particular term. In contrast, someone with conduction aphasia is unable to repeat sentences, expressions, or words they hear. They may use the wrong word or utter a meaningless sequence of words, all while maintaining fluid speech.

  • Slide 7 of 16: Aphasia most often occurs as a result of a brain injury, such as a stroke (the most common cause), heart attack, or hemorrhage. In rarer cases, the cause may be cancer, trauma, infection, inflammation, or related to certain types of dementia.

    Causes of aphasia

    Aphasia most often occurs as a result of a brain injury, such as a stroke (the most common cause), heart attack, or hemorrhage. In rarer cases, the cause may be cancer, trauma, infection, inflammation, or related to certain types of dementia.

  • Reading and writing

    Aphasia can affect not only speaking and listening skills, but also the ability to read and write. Again, the form it takes depends on the area of the brain affected.

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    Slide 9 of 16: The risk of stroke, a tumour, and neurodegenerative disease increases as we age. This means that seniors are more likely to suffer from aphasia, but this language disorder can also occur earlier in life, even in childhood.

    People most at risk

    The risk of stroke, a tumour, and neurodegenerative disease increases as we age. This means that seniors are more likely to suffer from aphasia, but this language disorder can also occur earlier in life, even in childhood.

  • Slide 10 of 16: Aphasia usually appears soon after the event that caused it. To establish a diagnosis, doctors will check a patient’s language skills using various tests to determine their ability to speak and rule out other possible conditions, such as delirium. If aphasia is present, a brain scan will be ordered to determine which areas of the brain are affected and to what extent.

    Diagnosing aphasia

    Aphasia usually appears soon after the event that caused it. To establish a diagnosis, doctors will check a patient’s language skills using various tests to determine their ability to speak and rule out other possible conditions, such as delirium. If aphasia is present, a brain scan will be ordered to determine which areas of the brain are affected and to what extent.

  • Slide 11 of 16: Losing the ability to communicate in such a short period of time completely changes your life. For those with aphasia, reading a book, watching a TV show, talking on the telephone, finding their way around an unfamiliar place, and even filling out a simple form can become a challenge.

    Disrupted daily life

    Losing the ability to communicate in such a short period of time completely changes your life. For those with aphasia, reading a book, watching a TV show, talking on the telephone, finding their way around an unfamiliar place, and even filling out a simple form can become a challenge.

  • Slide 12 of 16: Aphasia’s effect on communication touches all areas of life, from relationships with loved ones to professional pursuits. Furthermore, language barriers that become too difficult to overcome risk leaving aphasia patients depressed.

    Increased distress

    Aphasia’s effect on communication touches all areas of life, from relationships with loved ones to professional pursuits. Furthermore, language barriers that become too difficult to overcome risk leaving aphasia patients depressed.

  • Slide 13 of 16: Problematic conversations caused by difficulty expressing yourself or understanding others can be frustrating. A bit of effort from those around you can make things easier. Examples include slowing down, pausing to allow you to respond, not finishing your sentences for you, and talking in a quiet place.

    Communicating with someone with aphasia

    Problematic conversations caused by difficulty expressing yourself or understanding others can be frustrating. A bit of effort from those around you can make things easier. Examples include slowing down, pausing to allow you to respond, not finishing your sentences for you, and talking in a quiet place.

  • Slide 14 of 16: Aphasia due to mild brain damage often gets better without treatment. In other cases, intensive speech therapy, the most common option, should be started as soon as symptoms appear. Other forms of therapy (group, computer-assisted, etc.) help patients relearn how to converse or formulate certain words, while a brain stimulation technique, called neuromodulation, has proved effective in treating nonfluent (speech-related) aphasia.

    Treating aphasia

    Aphasia due to mild brain damage often gets better without treatment. In other cases, intensive speech therapy, the most common option, should be started as soon as symptoms appear. Other forms of therapy (group, computer-assisted, etc.) help patients relearn how to converse or formulate certain words, while a brain stimulation technique, called neuromodulation, has proved effective in treating nonfluent (speech-related) aphasia.

  • Slide 15 of 16: The chances of recovery from aphasia depend on a number of factors, such as the severity of the disorder, the area of the brain affected, and the cause and extent of the damage. For example, aphasia caused by a stroke or trauma may either partially or completely disappear. The degree of recovery typically depends on how quickly rehabilitation is initiated.

    Chances of recovery

    The chances of recovery from aphasia depend on a number of factors, such as the severity of the disorder, the area of the brain affected, and the cause and extent of the damage. For example, aphasia caused by a stroke or trauma may either partially or completely disappear. The degree of recovery typically depends on how quickly rehabilitation is initiated.

  • Slide 16 of 16: Aphasia is most often the result of a stroke, so adopting healthy habits that reduce the risk of stroke is one of the best ways to prevent it. Monitoring your blood pressure and making healthy lifestyle changes (diet, physical activity, etc.) can sometimes be a complete game changer.

    Prevention

    Aphasia is most often the result of a stroke, so adopting healthy habits that reduce the risk of stroke is one of the best ways to prevent it. Monitoring your blood pressure and making healthy lifestyle changes (diet, physical activity, etc.) can sometimes be a complete game changer.