Main navigation


You are here: About aphasia

About aphasia

Aphasia is a communication disability which occurs when the communication centres of the brain are damaged. It is usually caused by stroke, but can also be caused by brain haemorrhage, head injury or tumours.

There is also a condition called Primary Progressive Aphasia. The cause of this is unclear.

What does having aphasia mean?

Each person with aphasia experiences it differently. Some people cannot speak at all; some people have just a few words. Others can no longer read, write or use numbers.

Everyday activities such as having a conversation, answering the phone, watching television, may suddenly become a source of profound frustration and anxiety both for the person with aphasia and for their families, friends and carers.

How many people have aphasia?

Aphasia is more common than you would think. Every 11 minutes three people in the UK have a stroke. About a third of those people will have aphasia. In addition there are people who have aphasia through brain injury or tumour. So you may not have heard of aphasia but you probably know someone who has it – perhaps a relative or a friend.

Dysphasia

Aphasia is sometimes known as dysphasia. They both mean the same thing.

Types of aphasia

If you or a relative has got aphasia, you may have been told you have a special type of aphasia. This is dependent on which communication centres of the brain are damaged. For example, Broca's Aphasia is when a person speaks with short sentences that make sense but require great effort.

Wernicke’s aphasia is when a person speaks in long sentences that may not have meaning or may even make up words.

Global aphasia is when the aphasia is very severe.

Primary Progressive Aphasia

People who have aphasia that is caused by a stroke or head injury will experience some improvement over time. But with primary progressive aphasia this is not the case. People with primary progressive aphasia will continue to lose their ability to speak, read, write, and/or understand what they hear. It is not caused by stroke or head injury but usually begins as a difficulty in articulating words which progresses to an inability to speak.

Download your free aphasia information pack

Click here to download your pack (Boooklet, Flyer and DVD)