Aphasia: A Common Disorder You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
IMAGINE THIS…
As hard as you try, you can't seem to get the right word out.
When you listen to your spouse talking, it's almost like they are speaking in a different language.
You look at your watch to check the time, but the numbers don't make sense.
While reading the morning newspaper, you find you can't even understand the comics.
When you are out to eat with friends, you nod along because you don't understand what anyone is saying.
Your neighbor waves to you in the driveway and you realize you don't know how to wave back.
When you look down at your phone, you realize you don't know how to use it anymore.
You try to say your own name, but your mouth won't form the sounds.
Those are just some of the realities that persons with aphasia face daily. Can you imagine? Aphasia is a disorder everyone should know. So, are you ready for some education? Then keep reading.
Becoming Aphasia Aware
WHAT IS APHASIA?
In the simplest sense, aphasia is a loss of language. There are four components to language incorporating speaking, listening, reading, and writing. A shortlist of symptoms of aphasia include difficulty finding words, speaking in single words, leaving out parts of sentences, difficulty understanding others or answering questions, trouble writing words, or difficulty reading.
However, anyone who has experienced aphasia knows it goes much deeper than that. It hits the core of what makes us human. Communication and connection are often severed, leaving the person with aphasia confused, frustrated, and isolated. Go back and read the beginning of this article. That is aphasia. A loss of language has a much larger impact than most would ever think.
WHAT CAUSES APHASIA?
Aphasia is typically caused by a stroke, though it can also occur with other brain damage such as traumatic brain injury or brain tumors. About one-third of strokes result in aphasia. In fact, aphasia is more prevalent than common diseases such as Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, and Parkinson's Disease. Aphasia is also a complex disorder that has several different types and severity levels. Each classification of aphasia brings with it a whole host of issues a person may face, making it unpredictable.
WHY YOU SHOULD CARE ABOUT APHASIA.
So why doesn't the public know about this disorder? Because you are likely reading this article and have never heard of aphasia! That wouldn't be surprising as there is a general lack of education and advocacy surrounding aphasia. In 2020, the National Aphasia Association found that:
86.2% of people have never heard the term aphasia
Only 7% of people can identify it as a language disorder
41.5% of people agree or give a neutral response to the idea that difficulties with speech indicate intellectual deficiencies
The common misconception that aphasia is a loss of intelligence is detrimental to the individual's confidence to carry-over the skills they learn in speech therapy outside of the treatment room. So, it is my passion to educate others that aphasia is not an intellectual disability; it is a loss of language. When we approach differences with understanding and compassion, it allows the person with aphasia to blossom and feel accepted during their rehabilitation. The road to recovery is long and hard. So, a reliable support system and motivation are key components to overcoming the holes in communication that aphasia leaves behind.
How Can Speech Therapy Help Aphasia?
Speech-Language Pathologists are highly skilled in the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of aphasia. We work in tandem with the individual to set personal and realistic goals for recovery. Treatment aims to improve communicative abilities that meet the client's daily living needs. SLPs do this by using a variety of evidence-based treatment strategies tailored to the person with aphasia's strengths and areas of greatest need.
We understand there are many options for your care in Buffalo & Rochester. However, we know we are a step above the rest. Neuro Speech Solutions specializes in the treatment of aphasia. We dedicate countless hours to further our education and therapy strategies in the field of neuro communication disorders. Unlike other companies, we use treatment approaches that are focused on life participation. These approaches are proven to provide faster recovery times, higher client satisfaction, and better goal outcomes.
Are you ready to take the first step?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Katie Brown, MA, CCC-SLP, CBIS
Katie is the owner and founder of Neuro Speech Solutions. She is passionate about providing person-centered treatment to her clients in order to meet their life participation goals. Katie is dedicated to helping other SLPs provide functional therapy through affordable materials and education courses.
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