Each part in the brain controls different systems and skills that are essential for survival. Aphasia is a disorder that occurs as a result of brain damage due to various reasons. The damage occurs to the areas that control language and communication leading to aphasia. It can affect the ability of verbal and written communication, in some conditions both. This communication disorder mainly interferes with reading, writing, speaking, listening, and understanding.

What causes aphasia?

Damage in the brain, particularly to the areas that control language, understanding, and communication. As a result of brain tumors, stroke, infection, head injury or because of neurological disorders, the blood vessels that carry nutrients to the brain get damaged. With lack of sufficient oxygen and nutrients, the brain cells die causing aphasia. Out of all these causes, people with stroke are at higher risk of being diagnosed with aphasia.

What are the types of aphasia?

There are various types of aphasia. Each can cause different levels of impairment starting from mild to serious to chronic. Here are the major types of aphasia.

• Non-fluent aphasia:Also known as expressive aphasia, in this condition, the person knows what to communicate but finds it difficult to express.
• Receptive aphasia: With receptive aphasia, the person might be able to read and hear the voice of others but could not be able to understand. Their speech also seems disturbed because of their inability to understand their own language.
• Anomic aphasia:With this disorder, the person can understand the language better but could not find the exact words to express what they feel. The struggle to choose the right words continues even when the person is writing.
• Global aphasia:Known as the most severe kind of aphasia, this is observed right after a person diagnosed with stroke. This condition shows symptoms of all other types of aphasia. The person’s condition can be improved with proper stroke therapy.
• Primary progressive aphasia: Mostly observed in people who are advancing in terms of age, primary progressive aphasia, as the name implies, progresses over a period of time. Unfortunately, this type is not treatable but there are ways people can learn to communicate with signs and symbols.

The other types include temporary and permanent aphasias. Temporary aphasia can be triggered by seizures, and migraines. In some cases, transient ischemic attack (TIA) which is also known as mini stroke, interrupts the blood supply temporarily, causing numbness in certain parts of the body and difficulty in speaking and understanding.

How to diagnose and get treatment for aphasia?

If you are observing the individual is showing sudden difficulties in communicating, understanding, or explaining. The doctor will inquire about previous medical history and might prescribe CT or MRI scans to identify if there are any damages. Most doctors recommend screening tests for aphasia in the process of treating a brain injury or stroke.

What are the options in speech disorder treatment?

Upon the confirmation of the type asophia, the doctor will recommend speech therapy based on your level of asophia. Speech therapy treatment is provided gradually and progressively. Like any therapy, the speech-language therapists determine the goals and device the therapy plan to achieve them.

The therapy will involve exercises that improve your communication skills. By practicing various methods, and activities, the speech pathologists test your communication, understanding, and expressing abilities with real-life scenarios.

You will give different tasks that are time-bound and asked to complete them. The training sessions also include relearning certain words, sounds, and verbs. The therapy explores all types of training methods to improve the person’s ability to understand, react, and communicate just like their previous self.

How to prevent aphasia?

Aphasia triggered by stroke, migraines, and seizures is preventable, provided that these triggerants can be avoided by focusing on the person’s diet, lifestyle habits, and changes. The types of aphasia caused by tumors, and degenerative disorders, could not be reversed but compensated by learning the alternative methods.

Here are a few changes you can practice and avoid:

• Avoid smoking completely. Smoking is one of the major reasons for stroke.
• Exercise regularly to keep yourself in healthy weight
• Choose the diet that is low on sodium and contains less fat
• Take measures to control your stress and anxiety levels
• Blood pressure and cholesterol are the major contributors of stroke. Take steps to avoid them.