aphasia
Pronunciation: uh-FAY-zhuh
An acquired communication disorder resulting from brain damage that affects language comprehension and expression.
Full Definition
Aphasia is a language disorder caused by damage to brain areas responsible for language processing, typically following stroke, traumatic brain injury, or other neurological conditions. The condition affects various language modalities including speaking, listening, reading, and writing to different degrees. Speech pathologists classify aphasia into types such as Broca's, Wernicke's, and global aphasia based on specific language patterns and lesion locations. Treatment focuses on language rehabilitation strategies to improve functional communication. In clinical documentation, editors must accurately reflect the specific type and severity of aphasia as these distinctions guide therapeutic approaches and prognosis.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish from 'dysphasia' which implies partial language loss, while aphasia can be complete or partial.
In Context
- "The stroke patient presented with moderate Broca's aphasia affecting expressive language." — Initial evaluation report
- "Aphasia therapy focused on improving word retrieval and sentence formulation." — Treatment documentation