Aphasia Definition
Aphasia is a loss of language due to injury to the brain. Stroke is the most common cause of Aphasia in adults. However, Aphasia may result from a traumatic brain injury, tumor, disease, or neurological condition.
Aphasia affects the ability to communicate. One or more language modalities are affected: speaking, writing, reading, understanding the spoken language, or gestural communication. Approximately 400,000 strokes happen yearly in the U.S., and 90,000 of these result in Aphasia. More than two million people in the U.S. have Aphasia, according to the National Aphasia Association (https://www.aphasia.org/).
There is no cure for Aphasia. But, speech-language therapy and communicating with others can help improve communication and reduce feelings of isolation for persons with Aphasia and co-survivors.
