Identify Aphasia

Identify Aphasia

Aphasia affects a person's ability to speak and may affect their understanding of language. The condition affects over one million people. The level of impairment varies. It's important to realize that aphasia does not make a person less intelligent. While there's no cure, speech therapy may help. Therapists will help a person with aphasia relearn language skills and offer suggestions for improving communication.

Instructions

1. Understand conditions which may cause aphasia. When the area of the brain which controls language is damaged aphasia may occur. This may happen in a stroke, which is the most common cause of aphasia. Brain tumors and head injuries may also result in some degree of aphasia.

2. Realize there are different types of aphasia. It is categorized according to how language is affected. Nonfluent aphasia might cause a person to skip words in a sentence. People with fluent aphasia may use very long sentences that do not make sense. Another type of aphasia is global aphasia, which is usually the most severe and results in the most deficits.

3. Spot mild symptoms. A person with severe aphasia may not be able to communicate at all. However, a person with mild aphasia may go undiagnosed. Being unable to find the correct words to use and making up words may be signs of aphasia. Having trouble communicating with any background noise such as music or television may also indicate a problem.

4. Watch for problems understanding written communication. Some people with aphasia have problems with speech others have difficulties reading or writing. For some people with aphasia all areas of communication are affected. Writing things that do not make sense or making a lot of errors spelling words are symptoms of aphasia.

5. Notice personality changes. A person with aphasia may start to withdraw from activities and family and friends because they are trying to hide the problem. Frustration or depression is also common for people dealing with aphasia.

6. Undergo screening. See a doctor who may refer you to a speech pathologist. He will perform a series of tests which evaluate your comprehension of written and spoken language. Your ability to tell a story, follow directions or answer questions may be assessed.

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