About aphasia

Aphasia is an acquired language difficulty. It happens when the language areas of the brain are damaged – for example, by a stroke or brain injury.

The brain is responsible for using and understanding language – including speaking,
understanding, reading, writing, and using sign language.

Stroke is the most common cause of aphasia. There are two main types of strokes: ischemic strokes, and
hemorrhagic strokes.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is damage to the brain from a hard bump to the head, or a sharp object piercing the skull.

Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a rare dementia syndrome. It is not the same as Alzheimer’s Disease.

Epilepsy can occur in many different parts of the brain. If language brain areas are involved in epilepsy, this can cause aphasia.

Brain tumours can occur in many different parts of the brain. Communication difficulties like aphasia are common in brain tumour.

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People can have aphasia at any age, including in childhood – because strokes, brain injuries, or other brain damage can happen at any age.

What is aphasia?