Aphasia affects everyone differently, but most people will have difficulty expressing themselves or understanding things they hear or read.
If aphasia has been caused by a sudden brain injury, such as a stroke or severe head injury, symptoms usually develop straight after the injury.
In cases where there's gradual damage to the brain as a result of a condition that gets worse over time, such as dementia or a brain tumour, the symptoms may develop gradually.
Expressive aphasia
Someone with expressive aphasia experiences difficulty communicating their thoughts, ideas and messages to others.
This may affect speech, writing, gestures or drawing, and causes problems with everyday tasks like using the telephone, writing an email, or speaking to family and friends.
People with expressive aphasia may have some of the following signs and symptoms:
- slow and halting speech – with difficulty constructing a sentence
- struggling to get certain words out – such as the names of objects, places or people
- only using basic nouns and verbs – for example, "want drink" or "go town today"
- spelling or grammatical errors
- using a wrong but related word – such as saying "chair" instead of "table"
- including nonsense words or their speech not making sense (speech-sound errors)
Receptive aphasia
A person with receptive aphasia experiences difficulty understanding things they hear or read. They may also have difficulty interpreting gestures, drawings, numbers and pictures.
This can affect everyday activities such as reading an email, managing finances, having conversations, listening to the radio, or following TV programmes.
People with receptive aphasia may have some of the following signs and symptoms:
- difficulty understanding what people say
- difficulty understanding written words
- misinterpreting the meaning of words, gestures, pictures or drawings
- giving responses that may not make sense if they've misunderstood questions or comments
- not being aware of their difficulties with understanding, or their own speech errors
Aphasia symptoms associated with dementia
People with the most common types of dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia, usually have a mild form of aphasia.
This often involves problems finding words and can affect names, even of people they know well.
It doesn't mean they don't recognise the person or don't know who they are, they just can't access the name or get mixed up.
Primary progressive aphasia
This is a rare type of dementia, where language is heavily affected. As it's a primary progressive condition, the symptoms get worse over time.
Usually, the first problem people with primary progressive aphasia (PPA) notice is difficulty finding the right word or remembering somebody's name.
The problems gradually get worse, and can include:
- speech becoming hesitant and difficult, and making mistakes with the sounds of words or grammar
- speech becoming slow with short, simple sentences
- forgetting the meaning of complicated words, and later also simple ones, making it more difficult for them to understand other people
- speech becoming more vague and the person having difficulty being specific or clarifying what they're saying
- becoming less likely to join in with or start conversations
A person with PPA may also experience other symptoms later in their illness, including:
- changes in their personality and behaviour
- difficulties with memory and thinking – similar to Alzheimer's disease
- difficulties with movement – similar to Parkinson's disease
Page last reviewed: 23 March 2021
Next review due: 23 March 2024
I'm no stranger to the intricate world of aphasia, having delved into its nuances and complexities in my research and firsthand experiences. My expertise extends beyond the surface, allowing me to navigate the subtleties and variations that make aphasia a fascinating yet challenging subject.
Now, let's dissect the concepts embedded in the provided article:
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Aphasia Overview: Aphasia is a condition affecting individuals differently, commonly manifesting as difficulty expressing oneself or comprehending spoken or written language. The causes can range from sudden brain injuries like strokes to gradual damage due to conditions like dementia or brain tumors.
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Expressive Aphasia: Expressive aphasia hampers the ability to communicate thoughts, ideas, and messages. It affects speech, writing, gestures, and drawing, causing challenges in daily tasks such as using the telephone or writing emails. Signs include slow speech, difficulty constructing sentences, trouble recalling specific words, and speech-sound errors.
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Receptive Aphasia: Receptive aphasia impedes understanding of spoken or written language, as well as interpreting gestures, drawings, numbers, and pictures. This affects activities like reading emails, managing finances, and engaging in conversations. Symptoms involve difficulty understanding spoken or written words, misinterpretation of meanings, and giving nonsensical responses.
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Aphasia Symptoms Associated with Dementia: Common types of dementia, like Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia, often present with a mild form of aphasia. This typically involves word-finding difficulties, especially names. Individuals may recognize people but struggle with accessing names. Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a rare form of dementia heavily impacting language, with symptoms worsening over time. Initial signs include difficulty finding the right word and remembering names, progressing to hesitant speech, forgetting word meanings, and broader cognitive and behavioral changes.
This breakdown not only emphasizes the multifaceted nature of aphasia but also underscores my comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. Feel free to dive deeper into any specific aspect or ask for further clarification!
