What is Aphasia?

Aphasia is a language difficulty caused by damage to the brain.

People with aphasia may have difficulty with:

• talking
• listening (understanding what others say)
• reading
• writing
• using numbers
• using gestures

People with aphasia are competent and intelligent.

Aphasia may affect:

• everyday communication
• relationships
• everyday living

Aphasia may also be called:

• dysphasia (dis - phaze - yuh)
• anomia (difficulty finding words)

What causes aphasia?

• Aphasia is caused by stroke or other damage to the language centres of the brain.
• Head injury, tumours, or infections and inflammation in the brain may be other causes.

Remember:

• Aphasia affects every person differently. Some people have only mild difficulties, others have very severe communication problems.
• People with aphasia are competent and intelligent.
• People with aphasia still have thoughts, opinions and emotions.
• People with aphasia can still solve problems.
• People with aphasia can still hear and see.
• People with aphasia can still make decisions.
• People with aphasia often know what they want to say, but have difficulties getting their messages out.