Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Stroke Recovery/Aphasia Group Therapy Program
 

What is Aphasia??

Aphasia is a language disorder most often caused by a stroke. 

What is a stroke??

A sudden rupture or blockage of a blood vessel within the brain causing serious bleeding or local obstruction to blood flow in the brain, resulting in a stroke.

There are two types of strokes...

1.    Ischemic Stroke: involves complete or partial blockage of an artery  in the brain.

2.    Hemorrhage: involves bleeding within the skull or brain.

There are many different types of Aphasia:

* Some people who have Aphasia have a difficult time understanding what is being said to them.

*Some people who have Aphasia have a difficult time speaking.

*And some people who have Aphasia have a difficult time understanding people and a difficult time speaking.                                             

Aphasia Definitions by the Experts

*    The National Aphasia Association states:

Aphasia is an acquired communication disorder that
impairs a person's ability to process language,
but does not affect intelligence.
Aphasia impairs the ability to speak and understand others, and
most people with aphasia experience difficulty reading and writing.

(www.aphasia.org)

*    The Harvard Health Publications reads:

Difficulty speaking or comprehending language; a common occurrence after a stoke affecting the left hemisphere of the brain, where language is processed.