Aphasia

Aphasia is a language disorder that impacts a person’s ability to communicate. Aphasia is typically caused by a stroke, brain injury or brain tumor and treatment.

Language difficulties associated with aphasia can cause difficulty with the following:

• Speaking
• Understanding what other people are saying
• Reading
• Writing
• Using gestures

Aphasia does not reduce a person’s intelligence.

Speech-Language Pathology Evaluation & Therapy

Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP) have specialty training in evaluating individuals with aphasia.  Your assessment may include some of the following tasks:

• Stating personal information (name, birthdate, etc.)
• Answering yes / no questions
• Following single and multi-step directions
• Naming pictures or objects
• Answering open ended questions
• Participating in conversation
• Reading
• Writing

Using this information, your SLP will identify your areas of communication strength and weakness, and develop a tailored therapy plan to help maximize and improve your language skills. Your SLP will implement a person-centered approach and focus on life participation as you learn to live with aphasia.

Additional Information

National Aphasia Association: https://www.aphasia.org/?nowprocket=1

American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA): https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/clinical-topics/aphasia/

Aphasia Access: https://www.aphasiaaccess.org/

Australian Aphasia Research Pathway: http://www.aphasiapathway.com.au/

Aphasia Institute: https://www.aphasia.ca/

Aphasia You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/aphasiachannel/playlists

Videos

Aphasia, Imagine Life Without Words: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGyOKItHS9Y

Aphasia -  Supported Communication Example: https://www.aphasia.ca/example-of-sca/