Aphasia, also called dysphasia, is a language problem caused by brain damage. It makes it hard for people to talk, understand language, read, and write. Most often, it’s caused by strokes. About one in four stroke survivors have some level of aphasia.

Dysarthria is another speech problem that often happens with aphasia. It’s caused by nerve damage, making it hard to control the muscles used in speech. This makes speech sound slurred or unclear, and it can be tough to make certain sounds. When someone has both aphasia and dysarthria, it makes communication even more challenging.

Distinguishing between dysarthria and aphasia is vital for precise diagnosis and tailored treatment planning. Thus, a comprehensive assessment by speech-language pathologists or healthcare professionals is crucial for addressing both conditions effectively in individuals facing speech and language challenges.   The signs of aphasia vary depending on the part of the brain that has been damaged. However, types of aphasia include:

1. Broca’s Aphasia (Expressive Aphasia): Individuals with this type struggle to find the right words, often resorting to single words or short sentences.
2. Wernicke’s Aphasia (Receptive Aphasia): Those affected may have difficulty understanding speech or written language, even though they can hear or see the words.
3. Global Aphasia: The most severe form, causing a significant loss of language abilities, including speaking, understanding, reading, and writing.
4. Anomia or Amnesia Aphasia: Difficulty in recalling specific words for objects, people, places, or events.