- have difficulty reading, writing or speaking
- be unable to talk or find the right words when communicating
- speak or write in an incomprehensible manner
- struggle to understand the words of others
- speak in short sentences
as aphasia is usually the result of a serious underlying issue, such as a stroke or neurological disease, it is important to seek medical attention if you or someone you know is having trouble reading, writing, speaking or understanding what others are saying.
how is aphasia diagnosed?
a doctor will typically perform a series of physical and neurological tests when investigating a possible case of aphasia.
according to the mayo clinic, this can include testing a person’s strength and reflexes and listening to the heart and blood vessels in the neck. imaging tests, such as an mri or ct scan, are also effective at locating the source of the issue.
sometimes, a speech pathologist may be called upon to confirm an aphasia diagnosis by assessing a patient’s ability to communicate. this evaluation is also used to dictate the course of treatment.
how is aphasia treated?
if the damage to the brain is not severe, a patient may recover their ability to communicate with little to no treatment. for most people, however, some form of language or speech therapy will be required to recover these skills. therapy can be a slow process and, although most people recover most of what they lost, few are able to return to their pre-injury form. research has shown that therapy is usually most effective when it begins early and takes place in a group setting, where patients are made to feel comfortable as they rediscover how to communicate with others. sometimes, computers are used to help patients relearn sounds and words.
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