Definition
Aphasia is a communication disorder. People with aphasia may have difficulty with the expression and/or understanding of language, as well as reading and writing.
Causes
Aphasia is caused by an injury to parts of the brain that are involved with language. The injury may be the result of:
- Stroke, which is the most common cause
- Severe blow to the head
- Gunshot wound
- Other traumatic head injury
- Brain tumor
- Brain infection
- Neurodegenerative disorders
- Other brain conditions
Risk Factors
Factors that may increase your chances of developing aphasia include:
- Age: Older adult
- Family history of aphasia
- Prior history of transient ischemic attacks (TIA)—also called mini-strokes
Symptoms
Aphasia is a symptom of an underlying problem. It may include:
- Difficulty speaking:
- Speaking in short, fragmented phrases
- Putting words in the wrong order
- Using incorrect grammar
- Switching sounds or words
- Speaking in nonsense
- Anomia—word-finding problems
- Problems understanding oral language:
- Needing extra time to process language
- Difficulty following very fast speech
- Taking the literal meaning of a figure of speech
- Problems reading
- Problems writing
Diagnosis
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done.
If you have a brain condition, you are probably already seeing a doctor who specializes in the nervous system. This doctor will most likely be able to recognize your aphasia. Some simple tests may be done. For example, you may be asked to follow commands, answer questions, name objects, and have a conversation. You may then be referred to a speech-language pathologist who will perform additional tests to assess your speech and language skills.
Images may be taken of structures inside your head. This can be done with:
- MRI scan
- CT scan
Your bodily fluids may be tested. This can be done with:
- Blood tests
- Cerebrospinal fluid analysis
Your brain activity may be measured. This can be done with electroencephalogram (EEG).
You may also be given the following specialized tests:
- Evaluation of speech
- Assessment of the strength and coordination of the speech muscles
- Vocabulary and grammar tests
- Comprehension tests
- Reading and writing tests
- Swallowing tests
- Neuropsychological tests
Treatment
Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Treatment will focus on:
- Treating the underlying cause of aphasia
- Aphasia symptoms
Options for treating aphasia itself include:
Speech-Language Therapy
A speech-language specialist will help you:
- Use your remaining communication abilities
- Restore lost abilities
- Learn to compensate for language problems
- Learn other methods of communicating.
This therapy may take place in both individual and group settings.
Family Counseling
A speech-language therapist will help you and your family learn how to best communicate with each other.
Psychological evaluation may also be helpful.
Prevention
The most common cause of aphasia is stroke. To help reduce your chances of a stroke:
- Exercise regularly
- Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables
- Limit dietary salt and fat
- Stop smoking
- If you drink, do so in moderation.
- Maintain an healthy weight
- Monitor and control your blood pressure
- Consider taking low-dose aspirin, if your physician advises you do so.
- Keep existing conditions, such as diabetes and high cholesterol, under control.
- Seek immediate medical help if you experience symptoms of a stroke
Aphasia Treatment in India – Page Keywords:
Aphasia Definition, Aphasia Definition Causes, Aphasia Symptoms, Aphasia Treatment in India, Aphasia Treatment Cost in India, Aphasia Surgery Cost, Top Aphasia Treatment Hospital, Top Aphasia Treatment Doctor in India, Aphasia Meaning in Marathi, Aphasia Treatment Near me, Aphasia Complications, Travel India for Aphasia Treatment, Aphasia Treatment in Arab Countries, Aphasia Treatment in Bangladesh, Aphasia Treatment in Dhaka, Aphasia Meaning in Bengali, Aphasia Meaning in Arabic, Aphasia Meaning in Hindi, Aphasia Treatment in Bahrain, Aphasia Treatment in Egypt, Aphasia Treatment in Iraq, Aphasia Treatment in Jordan, Aphasia Treatment in Kuwait, Aphasia Treatment in Lebanon, Aphasia Treatment in Saudi Arabia, Aphasia Treatment in United Arab Emirates, Aphasia Treatment in Sudan, Aphasia Treatment in Tunisia, Aphasia Treatment in Nepal, Aphasia Treatment cost,