What is Aphasia?
Aphasia is a condition that limits a person’s ability to comprehend or utilise language. It is normally a result of stroke or traumatic brain injury, though other neurological conditions can also be causes. Typically the damage is in the left hemisphere of the brain, in one or both of the regions called Broca’s region or Wernicke’s region, or parts of the brain nearby.
Damage to Broca’s region normally causes difficulties in communicating fluently, e.g. putting words in the correct order or using normal grammar. The speech of someone with Broca’s aphasia may be very slow and halting.
Damage to Wernicke’s region normally causes difficulties in understanding language and using the right words for the right concepts. As a result, the speech of someone with Wernicke’s aphasia may seem nonsensical. However, each case of aphasia is different and it is sometimes not easily classifiable.
- It is currently estimated that 3000 people a year may be diagnosed with aphasia in Ireland. (Estimate from Peamount Healthcare.)
- In the US, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke estimates that about one million people have aphasia; or about 1 in 250 people.