From: deputydawg23x@gmail.com   
      
   An Overview of Aphasia   
      
   What Is Aphasia?   
   Aphasia is a communication disorder that results from damage or injury to   
   language parts of the brain. It's more common in older adults, particularly   
   those who have had a stroke.   
      
   Aphasia gets in the way of a person's ability to use or understand words.   
   Aphasia does not impair the person's intelligence. People who have aphasia may   
   have difficulty speaking and finding the "right" words to complete their   
   thoughts. They may also have    
   problems understanding conversation, reading and comprehending written words,   
   writing words, and using numbers.   
      
   What Causes Aphasia?   
   Aphasia is usually caused by a stroke or brain injury with damage to one or   
   more parts of the brain that deal with language. According to the National   
   Aphasia Association, about 25% to 40% of people who survive a stroke get   
   aphasia.   
      
   Aphasia may also be caused by a brain tumor, brain infection, or dementia such   
   as Alzheimer's disease. In some cases, aphasia is a symptom of epilepsy or   
   other neurological disorder.   
      
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   What Are the Types of Aphasia?   
   There are types of aphasia. Each type can cause impairment that varies from   
   mild to severe. Common types of aphasia include the following:   
      
   Expressive aphasia (non-fluent): With expressive aphasia, the person knows   
   what he or she wants to say, yet has difficulty communicating it to others. It   
   doesn't matter whether the person is trying to say or write what he or she is   
   trying to communicate.   
   Receptive aphasia (fluent): With receptive aphasia, the person can hear a   
   voice or read the print, but may not understand the meaning of the message.   
   Oftentimes, someone with receptive aphasia takes language literally. Their own   
   speech may be disturbed    
   because they do not understand their own language.   
   Anomic aphasia. With anomic aphasia, the person has word-finding difficulties.   
   This is called anomia. Because of the difficulties, the person struggles to   
   find the right words for speaking and writing.   
   Global aphasia. This is the most severe type of aphasia. It is often seen   
   right after someone has a stroke. With global aphasia, the person has   
   difficulty speaking and understanding words. In addition, the person is unable   
   to read or write.   
   Primary progressive aphasia. Primary progressive aphasia is a rare disorder   
   where people slowly lose their ability to talk, read, write, and comprehend   
   what they hear in conversation over a period of time. With a stroke, aphasia   
   may improve with proper    
   therapy. There is no treatment to reverse primary progressive aphasia. People   
   with primary progressive aphasia are able to communicate in ways other than   
   speech. For instance, they might use gestures. And many benefit from a   
   combination of speech therapy    
   and medications.   
   Aphasia may be mild or severe. With mild aphasia, the person may be able to   
   converse, yet have trouble finding the right word or understanding complex   
   conversations. Severe aphasia limits the person's ability to communicate. The   
   person may say little and    
   may not participate in or understand any conversation.   
      
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   What Are the Symptoms of Aphasia?   
   The main symptoms of aphasia include:   
      
   Trouble speaking   
   Struggling with finding the appropriate term or word   
   Using strange or inappropriate words in conversation   
   Some people with aphasia have problems understanding what others are saying.   
   The problems occur particularly when the person is tired or in a crowded or   
   loud environment. Aphasia does not affect thinking skills. But the person may   
   have problems    
   understanding written material and difficulties with handwriting. Some people   
   have trouble using numbers or even doing simple calculations.   
      
   How Is Aphasia Diagnosed?   
   Usually, a doctor first diagnoses aphasia when treating a patient for a   
   stroke, brain injury, or tumor. Using a series of neurological tests, the   
   doctor may ask the person questions. The doctor may also issue specific   
   commands and ask the person to name    
   different items or objects. The results of these tests help the doctor   
   determine if the person has aphasia. They also help determine the severity of   
   the aphasia.   
      
   How Is Aphasia Treated?   
   Treatment for someone with aphasia depends on factors such as:   
      
   Age   
   Cause of brain injury   
   Type of aphasia   
   Position and size of the brain lesion   
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   For instance, a person with aphasia may have a brain tumor that's affecting   
   the language center of the brain. Surgery to treat the brain tumor may also   
   improve the aphasia.   
      
   A person with aphasia who has had a stroke may benefit from sessions with a   
   speech-language pathologist. The therapist will meet regularly with the person   
   to increase his or her ability to speak and communicate. The therapist will   
   also teach the person    
   ways to communicate that don't involve speech. This will help the person   
   compensate for language difficulties.   
      
   Here are some tips from the National Stroke Association for someone with   
   aphasia:   
      
   Use props to help get the message across.   
   Draw words or pictures on paper when trying to communicate.   
   Speak slowly and stay calm when talking.   
      
      
      
      
   http://www.m.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/aphasia-causes-symptoms-types-treatments   
      
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