What Neurological Disorders Cause Aphasia? Insights By Dr. Vivek Pratap Singh

Aphasia is the impairment of speech and certain associated functions.

These impaired abilities may include speaking and understanding, reading, and writing.

Aphasia is caused by damage to some of the brain areas responsible for language processing. While an individual's intelligence remains intact, the affected individual finds it difficult to express or comprehend words.

To treat and manage aphasia, one should understand its symptoms, causes, and triggering factors.

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Understanding The Nature Of Aphasia

Is Aphasia A Neurological Disorder? As opposed to dysphasia, which is used in common parlance, aphasia applies to a wide range of spectrum disorders that alter a person's ability to comprehend or produce written or spoken language as a result of brain damage to those particular areas that mediate language.

Primarily, it affects the ability to speak and understand, read and write.

Concerning its broad classification, many types were distinguished in severity: mild, moderate, and severe, with each classification depending on the extent and specific location of the brain damage.

The person afflicted with aphasia retains most of his cognitive abilities.

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Main Factors Responsible For The Cause Of Aphasia

Neurological disorders of various types can lead to aphasia.

Or, more simply, brain injuries to areas of the brain that mediate language can trigger one or more forms of aphasia.

So, What is the main cause of aphasia? The leading cause of aphasia is a stroke, but other conditions can also contribute.

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1. Stroke - The Leading Cause of Aphasia

A stroke incidentally occurs when the blood supply to the brain is being reduced by a clot; or it ruptures, with the tissue being deprived of oxygen, thus dying.

Cells are said to be dead, particularly in language-processing centers of the left hemisphere.

It has been reported that 25-40% of stroke patients are afflicted with some degree of aphasia.

The severity of the aphasia depends on the area and size of involvement during the stroke.

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2. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Other traumatic injuries, whether by accident, fall, or violent impact, may affect the language areas, causing hostility toward any language change.

The severity of aphasia disorder symptoms depends on how much tissue is affected.

Rehabilitation therapy may allow for some individuals to regain partial ability of language.

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3. Tumors and Other Growths

Tumors growing in or near the brain's language centers can disrupt speech and comprehension.

Even benign (non-cancerous) tumors may cause aphasia if they apply pressure to brain tissues.

Removal of tumors can help improve symptoms, and in some cases, lingering language deficits.

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4. Degenerative Conditions

What neurological disorders cause aphasia? As many neurodegenerative diseases infiltrate memory and cognition, the gradual erosion of speech will be instigated.

Primary Progressive Aphasia is a kind of dementia whose hallmark symptom is loss of language ability.

However, unlike aphasia due to stroke, it does not start quickly but rather a gradual degeneration that obtains zipping speed with time.

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5. Brain Infections and Inflammation

Infections like meningitis and encephalitis can damage the brain's language-processing areas.

Other autoimmune conditions, including multiple sclerosis (MS), may also disturb language and comprehension.

In some cases, language capability might recover after treatment for the infection, but permanent damage also may occur.

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6. Seizures and Epilepsy

Some people will experience temporary aphasia before, during, or after seizures.

Long-standing problems with speech and language comprehension can arise when recurrent seizure activity affects either one of the brain's language areas.

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What Are The 3 Types Of Aphasia?

Aphasia has many different types that can be characterized by a varying degree of severity and patterns of language impairment.

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1. Broca's Aphasia (Non-Fluent Aphasia)

People find it hard to form words and sentences.

Speech is slow, effortful, and without grammatical structure.

Though they struggle with the production of speech, vast comprehension is intact.

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2. Wernicke's Aphasia (Fluent Aphasia)

Individuals can speak fluently, but their sentences lack meaning.

Words may well have been jumbled, nonsensical, or incorrect, making it hard to communicate.

They also have considerable difficulty understanding spoken and written language.

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3. Global Aphasia

It is the most severe form of the disorder that affects both the ability to produce and understand words.

It is usually due to widespread damage to the language areas in the brain.

Its communicative ability is greatly limited in individuals with global aphasia.

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Aphasia vs. Dysphasia

In short, those with aphasia have great difficulty with communication and/or conceptualization.

Someone with dysphasia has a partial impairment in their ability to communicate, even though some means of communication are still available.

Although dysphasia and aphasia refer to language impairment, only the latter is a term used in medical circles.

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Other Neurological Disorders Associated With Aphasia

Neurological disorders responsible for the acquisition of aphasia include:

• A stroke: The chief cause which results in an abrupt loss of the ability to speak and comprehend.
• Alzheimer's Disease: A gradual impairment of speech and comprehension.
• Parkinson's: Speech and cognitive impairments to some extent.
• Multiple sclerosis: Communication disturbances mediated by demyelination of brain nerve fibers.
• Brain tumors and infections: Should these directly affect the language areas, they could lead to impairment.

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Aphasia Disorder Treatment

While there is no particular treatment available for aphasia, its various treatment options provide continuous help to patients so they can recover language functions and enhance communication.

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1. Speech and Language Therapies

Therapies are usually organized sessions to assist the patient in practicing and recovering language skills.

Methods can include word-finding exercises, drills for repetition, and conversation practice.

Alternative means of communication may also be used, such as gestures and picture boards.

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2. Pharmacotherapy and Cognitive Therapy

Cognition may be improved by the use of some medications; that is, the use of dopaminergic drugs or cholinesterase inhibitors.

Cognitive therapy itself works on memory, attention, and problem-solving skills essential ingredients to the act of communication.

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3. Communication Devices?

Any device-digital or otherwise generates speech and is useful in enabling communication by the individual.

Some patients may find it useful to communicate through signing or writing.

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4. Support Groups and Rehabilitation Programs

Emotional and psychological support becomes very important in aphasia recovery.

Group therapy may provide a low-pressure environment in which to practice speech and socialization.

Family involvement and caregiver support remain essential to long-term communication skill improvement.

Dr. Vivek Pratap Singh is a well-respected neuropsychiatrist in Patna, specializing in various mental health issues, including aphasia disorder. You can consult him for treatment options at his clinic in Kankarbagh, Patna.

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Conclusion

Aphasia is a rather complex neurological syndrome primarily related to the occurrence of a stroke, brain injury, tumor, neurodegenerative disease, or infection.

The aphasic person is dependent upon alternative compensatory sessions, such as speech therapy or the use of assistive devices and rehabilitation programs, to regain some of their lost communicative powers.

This early identification and intervention truly make all the difference in increasing the quality of life of such people.