AphasiaPronounced: Ah-fay-gee-ah
by
Krisha McCoy, MS DefinitionAphasia is a disorder that affects the ability to communicate. People with aphasia may have difficulty with the expression and/or understanding of language, as well as reading and writing. Aphasia can be classified into 2 broad categories.
Causes TOPAphasia is caused by an injury to parts of the brain that are involved with language. The injury may be the result of:
Risk Factors TOPAphasia is more common in older people. Other factors that may increase your chance of aphasia include:
Symptoms TOPAphasia is a symptom of an underlying problem. It may include:
Diagnosis TOPYou will be asked about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. If you have a brain condition, you may already be seeing a doctor who specializes in the nervous system. This doctor will most likely be able to recognize your aphasia. Some simple tests may be done. For example, you may be asked to follow commands, answer questions, name objects, and have a conversation. You may then be referred to a speech-language pathologist who will perform additional tests to assess your speech and language skills. Imaging tests are used to evaluate the brain and other structures. These may include: Your bodily fluids may be tested. This can be done with:
Your brain activity may be measured. This can be done with electroencephalogram (EEG). You may also be given the following specialized tests:
Treatment TOPTalk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Treatment will focus on:
Options for treating aphasia itself include: Speech-Language TherapyA speech-language specialist will help you:
This therapy may take place in both individual and group settings. Family CounselingA speech-language therapist will help you and your family learn how to best communicate with each other. Psychological evaluation may also be helpful. Prevention TOPSince stroke is a common cause of aphasia. To help reduce the chance of a stroke:
If you have signs of a stroke, call for emergency medical services right away. RESOURCES:National Aphasia Association http://www.aphasia.org National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke http://www.ninds.nih.gov References:Aphasia. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association website. Available at: ...(Click grey area to select URL) Accessed February 16, 2018. Aphasia. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) website. Available at: ...(Click grey area to select URL) Updated March 6, 2017. Accessed February 18, 2018.
Stroke rehabilitation. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:
http://www.dynamed...
. Updated January 19, 2018. Accessed February 16, 2018.
Last reviewed March 2018 by
EBSCO Medical Review Board
Rimas Lukas, MD Last Updated: 2/12/2016 |
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