Aphasia is a language disorder due to a stroke, brain injury, brain tumor or surgery, brain infection or neurological disease. A person with aphasia (PWA) may have difficulty speaking, reading, writing, and understanding, but judgment and intelligence are intact - an invisible disability. No two people with aphasia are ever exactly alike and there is a range of various forms of aphasia. Definitions and the common types of aphasia link:
Aphasia.org
How common is aphasia?
It is more common than you may think:
It affects well over 2 million people in the U.S.
The number of people in the U.S with aphasia is more than the combined population of Wyoming, Vermont & Alaska
Aphasia affects approximately 1 in every 3 stroke survivors.
There are about 150 times more people with aphasia than there are people with ALS.
It is common that people with aphasia:
May pause a lot. The word may be on the tip of their tongue, but they are unable to access it in that moment.
May say yes and no when they mean the opposite. This can make it difficult, as answers may be unreliable.
May have difficulties with numbers, times, and dates and need more time to comprehend.
May have difficulty with excessive noises or background noises.
May have difficulty with choices, such as choices of salad dressings offered by a restaurant waiter.
How can you help with communication?
Be patient and wait for a response.
Reduce background noise (TV, radio, other people).
