Aphasia

What Is Aphasia?

Aphasia is a language disorder that can make it difficult to communicate or express yourself with words. It happens when parts of the brain that control language — usually on the left side — are damaged. This can affect how you speak, understand others, read, write, and even use sign language.

Aphasia does not affect your intelligence or how you think. But aphasia can make it difficult to find the right words, share your ideas, or understand conversations.

Aphasia looks different for everyone, and every recovery journey is unique. How it affects you — and how you recover from it — depends on many factors like what caused it, how much damage happened, support from family and loved ones, and the kind of treatment you receive.

What Are the Signs of Aphasia?

Aphasia can lead to trouble communicating, understanding language, reading, and writing. Everyone can have a little difficulty with these things occasionally, but people with aphasia might have a lot of difficulty — and with more frequency than people without aphasia.

Communicating

You may experience one or more of the following:

• You know what you want to say, but you can’t find the words. It may feel like the words are “on the tip of your tongue.”
• You say a different word than you mean. For example, you may “fish” instead of “chicken” (similar meaning) or “art” instead of “arm” (similar sounding). Or, you might use a word that is not related in meaning or in sound (like “radio” for “ball”).
• You mix up sounds in words. For example, you say “wish dasher” instead “dishwasher.”
• You make up new words that others don’t recognize. For example, you might say “thratble” — a word that doesn’t exist.
• You repeat common words or phrases. For example, you might say “I’m not sure” repeatedly, even though you know the answer.
• You find it easier to say single words rather than full sentences.

Understanding What Others Say

Aphasia can make it harder to understand spoken or signed conversations, especially in the following situations:

• Someone uses a word, but you think they mean something else. For example, someone asks you for a fork, and you hand them a spoon.
• Directions are confusing — especially when they are given quickly or have many steps.
• People talk fast or use words and topics you’re not familiar with.
• Many people are talking at once, or you are in a place with a lot of background noise and distractions.
• Language isn’t straightforward — like jokes, puns, sarcasm, or phrases like “better late than never.”
• You recognize the words, but they don’t make sense together — or you can’t remember what they mean.

Reading and Writing

Aphasia can make everyday tasks — like these — more challenging:

• Reading signs, forms, books, and screens
• Spelling words or using full sentences
• Using numbers — for example, telling time, counting money, or solving simple math problems

What Are the Causes of Aphasia?

Aphasia often happens after a stroke that damages parts of the brain that control language. But other changes to the brain can also cause aphasia. These include

• a traumatic brain injury
• brain infections
• brain tumors
• other brain conditions, such as dementia, that get worse over time

What Does Testing for Aphasia Look Like?

If you’re having trouble communicating, understanding others, reading, or writing, it’s important to talk to a medical professional. They can help figure out what’s causing these changes.

If your speech or communication changes suddenly, call 911 right away — these changes could be the sign of a medical emergency, like a stroke.

You can also ask your doctor to refer you to a speech-language pathologist (SLP). An SLP can help you understand what’s happening and can work with you on your communication goals.

During the evaluation, an SLP may do any of the following things:

• assess how you understand words, questions, directions, and stories
• see how clearly and easily you can say words and sentences
• look at how you read and write
• teach you other ways you can share your ideas when speaking is hard — like using communication boards or pointing to objects or pictures.
• test any non-verbal communication you use — like sign language.

If you use more than one language, your SLP will check how you communicate in each language.

How Is Aphasia Treated?

There’s no medicine that can cure aphasia, but SLPs can help you find ways to communicate — and stay connected to the people and activities that matter most.

Your SLP will work with you to set goals that meet your needs and fit into your life. If you want, they can also involve your family or the people you communicate with most. Together, you and your SLP will create a plan focused on what’s most important to you — whether that’s having conversations, joining social activities, or sharing your thoughts more easily. The type of treatment you get depends on what you want and need.

Finding Other Ways to Communicate

One method of communicating is called augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Types of AAC include

• hand gestures
• writing or drawing
• pointing to letters, pictures, or words
• using a phone, tablet, or communication device

Your SLP can help you explore what feels right and works well for your daily life.

Working With Your SLP

You may meet with an SLP one-on-one or in a small group. You may want your family to be a part of your treatment. They can help you use the skills you learn with the SLP at home. Your SLP can also help you connect with other resources in your community — like groups that gather specifically for reasons of support and socialization.

If you speak more than one language, aphasia may affect each language differently. You might be stronger in one language or have trouble in all of them. If your SLP doesn’t speak your language, they can work with a trained interpreter to make sure you get the support you need.

Tips for Communicating With Someone Who Has Aphasia

Aphasia can make communication challenging — but a person’s family, friends, and care partners can do a few simple things to make conversations more comfortable and successful. They can use the tips below to help support communication.

Talking with Someone Who Has Aphasia

Here’s how you can make it easier for someone with aphasia to follow what you’re saying (tips are from the point of view of the person with aphasia):

1. Get my attention before you start talking.
2. Speak in a calm, natural voice. You don’t need to speak louder than usual unless I ask you to.
3. Use simple, respectful language. Don’t “talk down” to me; just use clear words.
4. Slow down when you speak.
5. Keep sentences short. Repeat key words to help me focus on what’s most important.
6. Use more than just words. Pictures, gestures, writing, and facial expressions may help me understand better than words alone.
7. Use “yes” and “no” questions when possible. You can also repeat what you heard me say — to check that you’ve understood me correctly.
8. Give me choices instead of asking open-ended questions. For example, ask, “Do you want to watch TV or go to the movies?” instead of “What should we do this afternoon?”
9. Get rid of distractions (such as turning off the TV or the radio). A quiet environment may help me understand better.

Listening to Someone who has Aphasia

If you're talking with someone who has aphasia, you can support them in any of these ways (worded from the point of view of a person with aphasia):

1. Give me extra time. I might need a moment to find the right words.
2. Watch my body language and gestures. They can tell you a lot.
3. Try not to finish my sentences. Be patient while I figure out what I want to say.
4. Encourage me to draw, write, point, or use gestures if I am having trouble speaking.
5. Let me make mistakes. I may not say everything perfectly. What’s most important is that we understand each other.
6. Let me do things on my own. I may need a few tries. Help me only when I ask for it.
7. Get rid of distractions (such as turning off the TV or the radio). A quiet environment may help me communicate — and may help you understand — better.

Small adjustments make a big difference. With patience, kindness, and teamwork, communication is possible — even when it’s challenging.

To find an SLP/audiologist near you visit ProFind.

Resources

Inclusion on this list does not imply endorsement.

• Aphasia Hope
• National Aphasia Association