According to the National Aphasia Association, over 84% of people have never heard the term “aphasia.” Aphasia is a communication disorder that impacts one’s ability to speak and understand language. Aphasia can happen suddenly after a stroke or brain injury or develop slowly over time. According to the National Aphasia Association, about 1/3 of strokes result in aphasia, and at least 2 million Americans are suffering from the condition.
How does aphasia affect people?
Aphasia affects the ability to produce speech, comprehend speech, and the ability to read and write. However, people with aphasia still know what they want to say and can make their own decisions.
- Aphasia can range from mild to severe.
- It may affect mainly a single aspect of language use, such as the ability to recall the names of objects.
- Usually, multiple aspects of communication are impaired.
- There are different types of aphasia.
Patterns of Aphasia
Aphasia can take different forms and is defined based on the patterns of symptoms. These symptoms are related to fluency (the ability to speak smoothly and easily), understanding (the ability to understand what others are saying or what they read), and repetition (the ability to repeat words, phrases or sentences). These types include:
- Broca’s aphasia
- Wernicke aphasia
- Transcortical aphasia
- Conduction aphasia
- Mixed aphasia
- Global aphasia
Aphasia Symptoms
A person with aphasia may:
- Speak in short or incomplete sentences
- Speak in sentences that don’t make sense
- Substitute one word for another or one sound for another
- Speak unrecognizable words
- Have difficulty recalling words
- Not understand what other people say
- Not understand what they read
- Write sentences that don’t make sense
One of the things you can do to reduce your chance of stroke, and therefore aphasia, is to get screened for carotid artery disease. A clogged carotid artery in the neck caused by plaque build-up is estimated to cause one-third of strokes. If you have been diagnosed with heart or peripheral artery disease, you are at an increased risk for carotid artery disease. Other risk factors include being over age 65, smoking, and having a family history of stroke. Early diagnosis and treatment of a narrowed carotid artery can decrease stroke risk.
Colorado Cardiovascular Surgical Associates offers screening ultrasounds that can help you and your doctor determine your risk for stroke. The tests are quick and painless, and no physician referral is required. Learn more about screenings here or call 303-778-6527 to make an appointment today.
