aphasia
Pronunciation: /əˈfeɪziə/
Acquired language disorder resulting from brain damage, affecting production or comprehension of spoken or written language.
Full Definition
Aphasia is an acquired communication disorder that impairs a person's ability to process language, affecting both production and comprehension of speech and writing. This condition typically results from damage to language-dominant areas of the brain, most commonly the left hemisphere, due to stroke, traumatic brain injury, brain tumor, or neurodegenerative disease. Aphasia is classified into several types including Broca's aphasia (nonfluent), Wernicke's aphasia (fluent), global aphasia, and anomic aphasia, each with distinct patterns of language impairment. In neuropsychiatric settings, aphasia assessment is crucial for treatment planning and may significantly impact a patient's ability to participate in psychiatric care or provide reliable history. The condition requires specialized speech-language pathology intervention and can profoundly affect quality of life and social functioning.
Usage
Usage note: Some sources use 'dysphasia' synonymously, but 'aphasia' is preferred for complete language loss.
In Context
- "The stroke resulted in Broca's aphasia, leaving the patient able to understand but unable to express thoughts fluently." — Neurological assessment
- "Speech-language pathology evaluation revealed moderate anomic aphasia with significant word-finding difficulties." — Rehabilitation plan