What Causes Aphasia?
What Is Aphasia?
Aphasia is a language disorder that is caused by a stroke or brain trauma. This disorder affects how people communicate and understand language, as it may affect their ability to speak, understand, read, or write.
According to the National Aphasia Association, there are more than 2 million people in the United States living with aphasia today. To put that in perspective, aphasia is more common than Parkinson’s disease, yet most people have never heard of it. This lack of awareness can make the diagnosis even more challenging, because people with aphasia not only struggle with communication, but can also face misunderstanding and stigma from others.
Causes of Aphasia
Different forms of neurological trauma can be responsible for the development of aphasia. Any damage to the brain’s language center can result in the on-set of aphasia.
Some examples of injuries that can cause the disorder include:
- Stroke
- Brain Tumor
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Brain Inflammation
- Aneurysm
- Brain Infections
- Concussion
- Epilepsy
- Neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, etc.)
Types of Aphasia
Under the umbrella term of “Aphasia”, there are two subtypes of the disorder in which a person can be diagnosed: Fluent and Non-fluent.
- Fluent aphasia (e.g., Wernicke’s aphasia): Speech usually comes out smoothly and with normal rhythm, but the words may not make sense together, and comprehension is often impaired. For example, a person may speak in long sentences that sound fluent but are hard to understand, or they may misuse words without realizing it.
- Non-fluent (e.g., Broca’s aphasia): Speech is slow, effortful, and broken into short phrases, but comprehension is often relatively preserved. People with this type of aphasia may understand much of what is said to them, but struggle to find words or form full sentences.
The Center for Brain Recovery’s Resources
Aphasia is far more common than many realize. By recognizing the signs, understanding its causes, and learning about the different types, we can help reduce stigma and ensure those affected receive the support and rehabilitation they need.
Practicing communication in places like speech therapy and resource groups can provide people with aphasia a safe and welcoming space to foster connections and share valuable insights, strategies, and stories.
While aphasia can be life-changing, it is important to know that recovery is possible. Many people improve with time, and speech-language therapy plays a central role in helping individuals regain communication skills. The BU Center for Brain Recovery offers a number of resources to support those impacted by aphasia due to neurological disorders.
Our resources include:
- Conversation, Health, Art, Technology (CHAT) Resource Group
- Intensive Cognitive and Communication Rehabilitation (ICCR)
- 1:1 Consultations
If you or a loved one have been affected by aphasia, and you would like to learn more about the BU Center for Brain Recovery’s resources, events, and work to improve our understanding of neurological disorders, subscribe to our newsletter. And if you would like to get involved, reach out to us about joining our studies.