Aphasia is a neurological disorder that affects a person's ability to communicate. It is usually caused by damage to the parts of the brain responsible for language, most commonly due to a stroke, but it can also result from head injury, brain tumor, or neurodegenerative diseases.
Aphasia can impact:
Speaking
Understanding speech
Reading
Writing
The severity and specific type of aphasia depend on the location and extent of the brain damage.
Broca's aphasia (non-fluent aphasia) – Difficulty speaking and forming complete sentences, but comprehension is relatively preserved.
Wernicke's aphasia (fluent aphasia) – Fluent but often nonsensical speech with impaired understanding.
Global aphasia – Severe form involving major impairments in both expression and comprehension.
Anomic aphasia – Difficulty finding the right words, especially nouns and verbs, but relatively intact grammar and comprehension.
Would you like more detail on a specific type or how it’s diagnosed or treated?