Communication and Aphasia

Imagine one room of your home; imagine every drawer, every cabinet. Now, imagine someone comes and rearranges things without your knowledge. Everything is still there, but in different places. You walk into that same room and struggle to find things.

This analogy is helpful in understanding aphasia. Intelligence may remain intact, but communication is lost and may not be found right away.

Aphasia affects an estimated two million Americans. It can come on suddenly, the result of a stroke or traumatic brain injury, or slowly, because of a brain tumor or infection. Patients can have trouble speaking, understanding written or spoken language, or both.

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) help people with aphasia find a way to communicate. Rebuilding comprehension and expression takes many small steps over time. People with aphasia don’t always end up where they started; however, an SLP helps with retraining communication. SLPs are trained in complex communication systems people use to connect with others, maintain a sense of self and share ideas.

Because, as the American Speech Language Hearing Association says, “Communication is a fundamental human right.”