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| Services for Adult Language |
Language Disorders
Language is the expression of human communication. It allows a person to express experiences, explain ideas, share knowledge, thoughts, observations, questions, needs, values, beliefs and behaviors.
When language is impaired, problems can occur in all areas of a person's life, including:
• social development
• academic performance
• personal relationships
• employment opportunities
• self-sufficiency |
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What is aphasia?
Aphasia is a language disorder caused by damage in a specific area of the brain that controls language expression and comprehension, and leaves a person unable to communicate effectively with others.
Approximately one million people in the United States have aphasia, with about 80,000 cases diagnosed each year. Both genders are affected equally, and most people with aphasia are in over the age of 60. The number one cause of aphasia in the United States is stroke. |
What are the different types of aphasia?
There are many types of aphasia, which are usually diagnosed by which area of the language-dominant side of the brain is affected, and the extent of the damage.
Individuals with Broca's aphasia, for example, have damage to the front portion of the language-dominant side of the brain. They may eliminate grammatical elements from their language, and speak in short, but meaningful, sentences. The ability to understand communication of others is typically well preserved for person’s with Broca’s Aphasia.
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Individuals with Wernicke's aphasia have damage to the back portion of the language-dominant side of the brain. They may speak in long confusing sentences, add unnecessary words, or create new words. They ability to understand communication of others is typically impaired for person’s with Wernicke’s aphasia.
Global aphasia is the result of damage to a large portion of the language-dominant side of the brain. People with global aphasia demonstrate severe difficulties with both expressive and comprehending language.
What causes aphasia?
Aphasia is caused by damage to the language-dominant side of the brain, usually the left side, and may be brought on by:
• stroke
• head injury
• brain tumor
It is currently unknown if aphasia causes the complete loss of language structure, or if it causes difficulties in how language is accessed and used.
How is aphasia diagnosed?
Confirmation of aphasia, the severity of the disorder, and prediction for successful treatment may be assessed and confirmed by language testing conducted by a speech-language pathologist in addition to imaging procedures such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or positron emission tomography (PET) scan.
How is aphasia treated?
The goal of aphasia treatment is to improve the patient's ability to communicate through methods that may include:
• speech-language therapy
• computer based language learning software such as Bugalow® and Parrot®
• AAC devices (non-verbal communication therapies), such as computers or pictures
• group therapy for patients and their families
Source: Information edited from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
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Marissa A. Barrera. 248 West 35th Street, 16th floor, New York, NY 10001
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