Aphasia Is Often Misdiagnosed; Do You Know The Symptoms?
More than two million Americans live with aphasia, yet only 12% receive the correct diagnosis from the first provider they see. Aphasia is a language disorder usually caused by damage to the brain, and it affects communication and comprehension. It is not a disease itself, but rather a symptom of damage to the brain.
What causes aphasia?
Aphasia is caused by damage to the parts of the brain responsible for language. The most common cause is stroke and about one-third of stroke survivors experience aphasia. It can also be caused by other conditions that damage or disrupt brain function including:
- Brain infections or inflammation
- Brain surgery
- Brain tumors
- Dementia, Alzheimer’s disease or other progressive neurological conditions
- Seizures, migraines, aneurysms, oxygen deprivation, toxins or certain genetic conditions
- Transient ischemic attacks, also called TIAs or mini strokes
- Traumatic brain injury or concussion
“In some cases, aphasia happens suddenly, such as after a stroke, head injury or brain surgery,” said Crystal Moore, MS CCC-SLP, Lead Outpatient Speech Therapist Pathologist at Penn Highlands DuBois Outpatient Therapy. “In other cases, it develops gradually due to a brain tumor, dementia or a condition known as primary progressive aphasia, where cells in language-related parts of the brain slowly degenerate over time.”
Temporary episodes of aphasia may occur as a result of migraines, seizures or TIAs. It can also occur alongside other speech-related disorders, such as dysarthria or apraxia of speech.
What are the symptoms of aphasia?
Aphasia affects a person’s ability to communicate. Because aphasia is a symptom of another condition, such as a stroke, brain tumor, brain injury or neurological disease, symptoms can vary depending on the cause, severity and type of aphasia.
“In general, a person with aphasia may have trouble speaking, understanding language, reading or writing,” said Crystal. “They may know what they want to say but struggle to find the right words, or they may speak fluently but use words or sentences that do not make sense.”
Common symptoms of aphasia include:
- Speaking in short, incomplete or confusing sentences
- Substituting one word for another, saying unrecognizable words or creating new words
- Having trouble understanding other people’s conversations, following directions or understanding jokes
- Having difficulty reading written language
- Writing sentences that do not make sense, having trouble spelling or difficulty using numbers
How is aphasia treated and managed?
Speech and language therapy is the primary treatment for aphasia. During therapy, a speech-language pathologist helps the person practice speaking, listening, reading and writing. Therapy may focus on restoring as much language as possible, learning new ways to communicate and using remaining language abilities more effectively.
Management may also include developing new communication strategies for daily life. People with aphasia may use gestures, writing, drawing, pictures, communication books or devices to help express their needs. Family members and caregivers are often encouraged to take part in therapy so they can learn how to support conversation at home, such as:
- Speaking in short, clear sentences
- Giving the person extra time to respond
- Reducing background noise
- Repeating or writing down key words
- Including the person in conversations and decisions
There is no single treatment plan that works for everyone. Some people improve significantly, while others continue to have long-term communication challenges. Recovery can take time, and progress often depends on the extent of the brain injury, the person’s overall health and how early therapy begins.
The team at The Rehabilitation Center at Penn Highlands Healthcare helps restore cognitive function, speech and swallowing, as well as helping children with language-related learning issues such as speaking, listening and writing. The specialists at Penn Highlands are some of the most experienced in Pennsylvania, and with locations throughout the region, getting care is easy and convenient. Learn more at www.phhealthcare.org/rehab.