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The Aphasia Handbook is now available!
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What is aphasia?
Aphasia is an acquired language difficulty. It happens when the language areas of the brain are damaged.
Aphasia can be caused by:
- stroke,
- traumatic brain injury,
- brain tumour,
- Primary Progressive Aphasia (a type of dementia), and
- epilepsy.
Aphasia is common! About 140,000 people in Australia live with aphasia.
Aphasia affects a person’s language and communication – it does not affect intelligence.
Aphasia can make it hard to:
- understand what other people are saying,
- say what you want to,
- read,
- write,
- use gestures, and
- use numbers
Aphasia is very variable and is different for each person. Some people may have difficulty with one of these areas. For example, trouble finding the right word, or feeling like the word is on the ‘tip of their tongue’. Other people may have difficulty with more than one area.
We use communication for almost everything we do. Aphasia can impact many things about a person’s day-to-day life, including conversations, relationships, working, studying and hobbies. It can also affect a person’s mental health and wellbeing.
There is lot that can be done to help people with aphasia. For example:
- aphasia therapy,
- aphasia groups, and
- looking after your mental health.
You are not alone! The AAA is here to help.
Below are three useful videos explaining aphasia.
This video was made by National Aphasia Association in America.
This video was made by the Brooke Rehabilitation Aphasia Centre.
This video was made by Emma Beesley, an Australian woman with aphasia. Emma recorded this video as part of a video series about aphasia for the Stroke Foundation. The videos are all about aphasia, and Emma’s tips for living with aphasia. Click here to see the full playlist.
Image from vecteezy.com.
