Aphasia is a problem
with language, resulting from damage to
the parts of the brain concerned with the
use and meaning of words. The problem affects
the understanding and production of language
rather than the purely physical aspects
of speech such as the movement of lips and
tongue. Aphasia is a common feature of stroke.
In all right-handed and many left-handed
people, it is due to damage in the left
side of the brain. There are usually, but
not necessarily, associated difficulties
in reading and writing. In motor or expressive
aphasia, the person understands what is
said but isn't able to produce the right
words to respond.
In sensory or receptive
aphasia, there is a problem with comprehension,
and affected people produce speech that
sounds fluent but is actually nonsensical
or full of meaningless jargon.
In global aphasia,
there is a problem with both understanding
and word production.
In all kinds of aphasia, how sever
it is can vary widely
Symptoms
Aphasia can make it
difficult to speak, write, read and generally
communicate with other people. It is easy
for other people to make the mistake of
assuming that a person with aphasia has
suffered a loss of intelligence. A highly
educated person who suffers a stroke featuring
aphasia may still be fully capable of the
same degree of thought and understanding
as before and of fully understanding what
is said. However, the aphasia may make it
impossible for the person to express thoughts
properly or to respond to conversation.
It is important for
those living with someone having aphasia
to be aware of its type so as to avoid treating
an intelligent person like a child.
Causes
The two different
aspects of aphasia occur because there are
two different areas in the speech part of
the brain, which is situated about the middle
of each side.One area, known as Broca's
area, is concerned with retrieving words
from your mind to name things or people
or to express ideas. So if a person has
a stroke as a result of a blockage in an
artery supplying blood to Broca's area of
the brain, that person will have motor aphasia.
The other area, Wernicke's
area, is concerned with understanding the
meaning of words that you hear. So if a
person has a stroke involving Wernicke's
area of the brain, that person will have
sensory aphasia.
Treatment
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Aphasia
