Aphasia - Causes, Types, Symptoms And Treatment

Written by: Roselyn Mathew / Medical Rehabilitation / August 24, 2022 / 7 minutes read

Aphasia is a disorder where the person faces difficulties in communication. It might affect understanding, speaking or both and might also cause difficulties in reading and writing. Aphasia usually occurs in adults but there are also chances of children developing aphasia as a result of brain injury.

Causes of Aphasia

The major cause for aphasia is due to a brain injury. It can occur due to many reasons such as:

• Stroke

• Traumatic brain injury

• Brain tumors

• Brain infections

Types and symptoms of Aphasia

The type of Aphasia is classified based on the site of lesion or the symptoms of the language impairment observed. There are various classifications of Aphasia. The most popular classification divides Aphasia into 9 types. They are:

Broca’s Aphasia

In Broca’s Aphasia, the site of lesion is in the Broca’s area, which is the area in brain that is responsible for speaking. Therefore, a person with Broca’s Aphasia can understand speech but is unable to speak and express their thoughts through speech. They are also unable to repeat and name. Reading and writing is also affected.

Wernicke’s Aphasia

In Wernicke's Aphasia, there is damage to the Wernicke’s area, which is the area in brain that is responsible for understanding speech. Therefore, a person with Wernicke’s Aphasia cannot understand verbal speech. They may initially appear to speak well, but there is a disruption in communication due to the inability to understand what their communication partner is trying to communicate. Hence, communication is affected. They understand gestures and non-verbal speech most of the time. Naming and repetition are affected. Reading and writing are also affected most of the time.

Global Aphasia

This is the most severe form of Aphasia where most of the areas of the brain are affected. As a result, both speaking and understanding of speech are affected. Even though communication through speech is affected, they might be able to understand simple gestures and respond to it. But usually, they and their communication partners become extremely frustrated which often results in conflicts while trying to communicate. Reading and writing are also affected. Repeating words and naming are also affected. Improvement of Global Aphasia usually results in Broca’s, Wernicke’s or Isolation aphasia depending on the area in communication that becomes stronger. 

Transcortical Motor Aphasia

This is a less severe version of Broca’s Aphasia. Here, the site of injury is outside the Broca’s area. As a result, the symptoms are mild when compared to Broca’s aphasia. Here the person will be able to communicate in a few words but not in complete sentences. The person will be able to repeat phrases and simple sentences well. Naming is affected. Reading and writing is good most of the time. 

"The type of Aphasia is classified based on the site of lesion or the symptoms of the language impairment observed."

Transcortical Sensory Aphasia 

This is a less severe form of Wernicke’s Aphasia. The site of lesion is outside the Wernicke’s area. The person is able to understand simple verbal speech. They will also be able to repeat sentences. Naming is impaired. Reading and writing is not affected or very mildly affected most of the time. 

Isolation Aphasia

Here, the condition is similar to Global Aphasia but in a less severe way. Both understanding and speaking or affected but the person will be able to understand small simple sentences and will be able to communicate using a few words. Reading, writing and naming are affected. The person will be able to repeat sentences well even though they do not understand longer sentences. 

Conduction Aphasia

Here, repetition is affected in a severe way. The person will be able to speak and understand speech well most of the time but won’t be able to repeat words, phrases or simple sentences, depending on the severity. Naming is affected. Reading and writing is good most of the time.

Anomic Aphasia

In Anomic Aphasia, the person will have impaired naming skills. All other areas like speaking, understanding speech and repetition will be unaffected or very mildly affected. Reading and writing is also good almost all the time. 

Pure word deafness

Here, understanding of verbal speech is affected. Repetition is also affected. Speaking, naming, reading and writing is good. The person will be able to understand written language and will be able to respond to it well. 

Pure Alexia

Here, the person will only have issues in reading. Writing is mostly not affected but there have been cases of writing also affected along with reading. Speaking, understanding speech, repetition and naming are good. 

Treatment of Aphasia

Treatment of Aphasia vary based on the symptoms and difficulties experienced by the person. If the person is bilingual or multilingual, chances are there that one language will be less affected than the other. Therefore, the language that is least affected is used for speech and language therapy. It is also important to also counsel the person’s family members and caretakers to communicate with the person in simple words and gestures and not to use long sentences or get upset if the person is unable to understand or respond to the questions asked.

Conclusion

Aphasia is a disorder where communication is affected. The types of Aphasia are based on the injury and symptoms presented. Speech Language therapy is helpful to enable speech and meaningful communication.

To speak with one of the speech-language pathologists at Well Said: Toronto Speech Therapy, schedule an initial consultation by clicking the link below or calling (647) 795-5277.