How is aphasia treated, and is there a cure?
Unfortunately, there’s no direct cure for aphasia. However, it’s usually treatable in some way. The first step in treating aphasia is usually treating the condition that causes it. With conditions like stroke, quickly restoring blood flow to the affected area of the brain can sometimes limit or prevent permanent damage.
In cases where aphasia happens because of a temporary problem, such as from a concussion, migraine, seizure or some kind of infection, aphasia is often temporary, too. The aphasia usually gets better or goes away entirely as you recover and your brain heals with time and treatment.
For people who have long-term or permanent brain damage, like what happens with severe strokes, speech therapy can sometimes help a person's language abilities. These therapy options can also help a person with improving their understanding of others, and how to compensate for their aphasia. Speech therapy can also involve caregivers and loved ones, so they know how best to communicate with and help you.
What medications or treatments are used?
The medications or treatments for conditions that cause aphasia can vary widely. Because of that, your healthcare provider is the best source of information on the possible treatments that will help you. They can tailor the treatment options to your needs and circ*mstances. They'll also consider any underlying health conditions or preferences that might impact your care.
Complications or side effects of the treatment
The possible side effects or complications that can happen depend on what caused this condition in the first place and the specific treatments used. Your healthcare provider can explain the potential side effects or complications most likely in your specific case. You can also ask them more about what you can do to limit or even prevent side effects.
How to take care of myself or manage the symptoms?
Aphasia is a sign of damage or serious disruptions in your brain. Most conditions that cause aphasia are severe, and some are life-threatening medical emergencies. Because of that, you shouldn't try to self-diagnose aphasia. If you or someone you're with have aphasia-like symptoms, you should call 911 (or your local emergency services number) to get medical attention immediately.
How soon after treatment will I feel better?
The time it takes to recover from aphasia depends on what caused it, how long it’s likely to last and the treatments involved. Your healthcare provider is the best person to tell you more about the timeline for you to feel better and recover.
FAQs
There are also multiple types of aphasia. The location of the damage in your brain determines the type of aphasia you have. This condition is almost always a symptom of another problem, such as a stroke or traumatic brain injury. It can also happen as a temporary effect of conditions like migraines.
What is the most severe type of aphasia? ›
Global Aphasia
This is the most severe form of aphasia. Patients can only produce a few recognizable words and have little to no understanding of written or spoken language. Patients are unable to read or write.
What causes aphasia without stroke? ›
Sometimes temporary episodes of aphasia can occur. These can be due to migraines, seizures or a transient ischemic attack (TIA). A transient ischemic attack (TIA) occurs when blood flow is temporarily blocked to an area of the brain. People who've had a are at an increased risk of having a stroke in the near future.
What are the 8 types of aphasia? ›
Types of Aphasia
- Global Aphasia. Global aphasia is the most severe type of aphasia. ...
- Broca's Aphasia. Broca's aphasia is also called non-fluent or expressive aphasia. ...
- Mixed Non-Fluent Aphasia. ...
- Wernicke's Aphasia. ...
- Anomic Aphasia. ...
- Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA)
Aphasia is caused by damage to one or more of the language areas of the brain. Most often, the cause of the brain injury is a stroke. A stroke occurs when a blood clot or a leaking or burst vessel cuts off blood flow to part of the brain.
Does aphasia lead to dementia? ›
Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a gradual loss of language skills. It's a sign of an underlying neurodegenerative disease. In some people, PPA is the first sign of Alzheimer's disease, while in others, it's related to frontotemporal dementia.
What is the life expectancy of someone who has aphasia? ›
Though PPA doesn't directly cause death, research suggests that the survival timeline after onset is anywhere from 7 to 12 years. PPA typically manifests later in life, when comorbid conditions, like heart problems, are also more likely.
What neurological disorder causes aphasia? ›
Aphasia is caused by damage to the language-dominant side of the brain, usually the left side. It may be brought on by: Stroke.
What kind of infection can cause aphasia? ›
Aphasia Triggered by Brain Infection
- Encephalitis: inflammation of brain tissue.
- Meningitis: an inflammation of the brain's linings.
- Brain abscess: a pocket of infection in the brain (often due to bacteria)
Anomic aphasia is one of the mildest forms of aphasia. Specific recovery times depend on the extent of brain damage and the cause of the aphasia. If brain damage is permanent, a person with anomic aphasia may never regain their full language function.
The answer is no. There are several common and possible causes of aphasia, however anxiety is not among them. At the same time, anxiety often occurs after strokes, and it is commonly seen in people with aphasia. It's not at all surprising that many people wonder about the connection between anxiety and aphasia.
Can alcohol cause aphasia? ›
Aphasia can also be caused by substance abuse, either short-term (with drink or drugs temporarily affecting the parts of the brain related to language) or long-term (with actual damage to the brain caused by the repeated consumption of high quantities of a given substance or substances.
What causes inability to find words when speaking? ›
Depending on which areas of the brain are affected, a person can have an expressive aphasia, a receptive aphasia, or both. The most common causes of aphasia are stroke, traumatic brain injury, neurodegenerative conditions, brain tumors, and epilepsy.
What causes Broca's aphasia? ›
The most common cause of Broca's aphasia is a stroke. It can also occur due to traumatic brain injuries, brain infections, or tumors. Doctors tailor treatment to the individual. However, it usually involves speech and language therapy.
How did Wendy get aphasia? ›
Aphasia can be caused by brain damage
In certain conditions, like frontotemporal dementia, the slow decline of brain cells can lead to progressive syndromes, like aphasias.
Who usually gets aphasia? ›
Aphasia can affect people of all ages, but it's most common in people over the age of 65. This is because strokes and progressive neurological conditions tend to affect older adults.
