Increasing community awareness of aphasia

What is this resource and how do I use it?

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Imagine waking up one day having lost your ability to use and understand language..

..welcome to the world of

aphasia

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Why is it important to understand aphasia?

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Incidence and prevalence

• Aphasia has a high incidence

• 8600 people per year acquire aphasia

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Increasing community awareness

• Awareness of aphasia can help support

the reintegration of people with aphasia

into the community.

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Funding

• There is a direct relationship between the

public awareness of a condition and the

funding and services that are provided for

that condition.

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What is aphasia?

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Aphasia is a language disorder

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Aphasia can involve difficulties with..

Talking Reading

Listening Writing

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Aphasia is NOT..

• An intellectual disability

• An articulation problem

• A coordination problem

• A hearing or vision problem

• A voice problem

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The language system

• Speaking

• Understanding

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Commonly associated disorders

• Dysarthria

• Apraxia of speech

• Dysphonia

• Dysphagia

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Dysarthria

• Disorder affecting the muscles that control

speech

• Symptom is poor articulation

• Can occur from brain damage

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Apraxia of Speech(Dyspraxia / verbal dyspraxia)

• Lost ability to carry out purposeful movements

• Disorder in muscle planning.

• Occurs as a result of brain damage

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Dysphonia

• Disorders of the voice.

• Voice may sound weak, breathy, harsh, rough or

strained

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Dysphagia

• Refers to problem with eating or drinking.

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Who can acquire aphasia?

• Aphasia knows no boundaries

• Anyone can be affected

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What causes aphasia?

• Damage to the language centres in the brain

• Caused by

Stroke

Head injury

Tumour

dementia

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Areas of the brain affected in aphasia

Wernicke’s Area

Language

Comprehension

Broca’s Area

Speech Production

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Picture of left side of brain

Stroke

• Stroke is the leading cause of aphasia.

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Traumatic brain injury

• TBI is the result of force applied to the

head.

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Primary progressive aphasia

• PPA is a neurological disorder.

• Causes loss of ability to use and understand

language

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How does aphasia present?

• Aphasia can look different in different people

• Symptoms can range from mild to severe

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Symptoms of aphasia

Difficulties with:

• Putting thoughts into words

• Understanding words

• Reading and writing

• Speaking fluently

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Problems with fluency

Non fluent vs fluent aphasia

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Location of damage in the brain and fluency

• Location of brain damage has implications for fluency.

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Central sulcus

Anterior

damage=

non fluent

aphasia.

Posterior

damage =

fluent aphasia.

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Agrammatism

• A symptom of aphasia

• Difficulty using correct grammar in speech

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Problems with naming and repetition

• Anomia= extreme word finding difficulty. 

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Comprehension

• People with aphasia can have difficulty

understanding spoken and/or written information

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Types of aphasia

• Expressive

• Receptive

• Global

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Why is aphasia variable?

• Language is a complicated system

• Brain damage can affect any part of this system

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Living with aphasia

• Changes total life experience

• Aphasia constantly presents challenges

throughout life.

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Personal experience of aphasia

• Discussion with a person with aphasia.

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Personal experience of aphasia

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Recovery from aphasia

• Aphasia changes over time

• Changes can be in a positive direction

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Factors that assist recovery

• Motivation

• Support

• Severity

• General health

• Speech therapy

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Strategies to use when communicating with someone

with aphasia

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Strategies for talking to someone with aphasia:

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Strategies for listening to someone with aphasia

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When asking questions:

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Strategies for Reading

• Provide pictures

• Underline

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Strategies for writing

• Break down writing into steps

• Encourage more information

• Encourage the person

-to speak, draw,

or gesture as well.

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Health care information for people with aphasia

• Limited access

• Often too complex

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Providing aphasia friendly information

• Summarise main points • Use:

– Large font– Pictures– Headings

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Effects on friends and family

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How families can help

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Support groups

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Resources for family and carers

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Top resources

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Example presentation title Page 50

Thank You