APHASIA

What is aphasia?

• Aquired communication disorder that impairs a person's ability to process language
• Does NOT affect intelligence
• Difficulties speaking, understanding others, reading, writing
• Many types of Aphasia

Common causes:

• Stroke- 25%-40% survivors get aphasia
• Head Injury
• Brain Tumor
• Other Neurological Issues

affected areas of the brain

• Broca's Aphasia- frontal lobe
• Wernicke's Aphasia- temporal lobe
• Global Aphasia-extensive portions
• Occurs in left hemisphere for most people
• *Acetylcholine (ACh)*

Broca's and Wernicke's Areas

Symptoms

• Auditory Comprehension Impairments
• Written Language Impairments
• Verbal Expression Impairments
• Reading Comprehension Impairments
• Ex.- difficulty understanding spoken messages, writing/copying letters/words/sentences, recognizing words, omitting "the", "to", etc.

treatment

• Speech Therapy
• Augmentative Communication Devices (book, computer device, etc.)
• Treatment to the particular cause

Prevention

• Monitor health problems
• Reduce risk factors
• Examples: drug use, smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.