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Aphasia: definition, symptoms and impacts
What is aphasia?
Aphasia is a communication disorder that can affect the ability to say or understand words, as well as the ability to read and write. It therefore causes difficulties that make communication with those around them difficult. Faced with these difficulties, people with aphasia may tend to communicate less and therefore isolate themselves socially.
Aphasia is often caused by a brain injury such as a stroke. It can also occur following an acquired disorder such as a traumatic brain injury. Finally, aphasia can occur following neurocognitive disorders, such as primary progressive aphasia.
Aphasia in everyday life: living in a country where you don't speak the language
An image sometimes comes up to try to explain what an aphasic person can feel. Imagine living in a foreign country where you don't know the language. This language barrier would hinder your ability to read, write and speak. It would also cause frequent misunderstandings in your daily interactions and significantly affect your social life.
To fully understand the frustration of these communication difficulties in people with aphasia, it is important to note that their intelligence remains intact.
Communicating with a person with aphasia
A person with aphasia has difficulty understanding or making themselves understood without an adapted strategy. To promote optimal communication, there are strategies to promote understanding and expression, regardless of the type of aphasia. For example, it is important to place yourself in front of your interlocutor, and to use short and direct sentences while maintaining an adult tone.
If you would like to learn more about basic strategies for communicating with someone with aphasia, Here we offer you a list of practical tips.
Mental health consequences
While aphasia is a communication disorder, it can also be accompanied by severe physical disabilities such as hemiplegia, which is manifested by paralysis on one side of the body. These limitations lead to significant social isolation, with direct consequences on mental health.
On this subject, a reference study demonstrates that 62% of aphasic patients develop depression within one year of an ischemic stroke.
What are the different types of aphasia?
There are several types of aphasia whose manifestations vary. Here are the main forms observed, as well as their main characteristics.
Footnotes : it is important to note that the classification of aphasias proposed below is regularly discussed. This list is provided for information purposes only to give you some guidelines.
Global aphasia
Extreme difficulty in expression and comprehension. Inability to read or write.
Broca's aphasia
Marked difficulties in oral expression (limited, slow speech and difficulty finding words). Understanding of spoken and written language preserved.
Non-fluent mixed aphasia
Reduced oral expression, similar to Broca's aphasia. Difficulty understanding spoken and written language.
Wernicke's aphasia (fluent aphasia)
Ability to express oneself, but often incoherent speech (words and sentences difficult to understand). Major difficulties in understanding spoken and written language.
Anomic aphasia
Grammatically correct expression but persistent difficulties in finding words orally and in writing. Comprehension of spoken and written language generally preserved.
Primary progressive aphasia
Gradual progression of symptoms, initially manifested by loss of words and language. Other symptoms may develop later, such as memory loss
Other forms of aphasia
There are other forms of aphasia whose symptoms do not correspond exactly to the main forms we have just identified. For example, certain symptoms can appear in isolation. Severe calculation deficits are, for example, often associated with aphasia, but in some cases patients retain excellent calculation skills despite their language loss.
Seeking support for people with aphasia and their caregivers
Several specialized organizations in Quebec offer support services to people with aphasia, in particular to promote their social participation, provide psychosocial support or even for adapted transportation. Specific resources are also available for caregivers, such as online telephone listening services.
We invite you to Visit this page for a selection of useful resources who can accompany you.
The Quebec Association of Aphasic People (AQPA) also offers services for people with aphasia and their loved ones in the greater Montreal area. To learn more about our activities and services dedicated to people with aphasia, Here is our programming. If you are a caregiver, Here are the workshops that are offered to you.
To go deeper into the subject
Want to learn more about aphasia? There are many publications and educational resources available online, many of which are free.
Public chat this page of our website, we offer you a series of essential documents and resources covering the different aspects of aphasia, in order to deepen your knowledge on the subject.