June is National Aphasia Awareness Month

Aphasia is an acquired communication disorder that impairs a persons ability to process language, but does not affect intelligence. People with aphasia have difficulty speaking to and understanding others; many also experience difficulty reading and writing. The most common cause of aphasia is stroke, although it can also be the result of a head injury, brain tumor, or other neurological cause.

Aphasia affects about one million Americans, or 1 in 250 people. It is more common than cerebral palsy, muscular distrophy, or Parkinson's Disease. More than 100,000 Americans acquire it each year. It is most common among older people, but can occur in people of all agres, races, and genders.

While it is possible to have aphasia without having any other physical disability, most people who suffer from aphasia also have weakness or paralysis in their right leg and arm. Aphasia is not always permanent; however, if symptoms last more than two to three months after a stroke, complete recovery is unlikely. Some people have continued to improve over a period of years.

Someone with aphasia may have difficulty speaking, but their intelligence is basically intact. They simply have trouble accessing information through language.

Suggestions for communicating with someone with aphasia include: give them time to speak and refrain from finishing sentences for them unless they ask, be sensitive to background noise and turn off competing sounds (radios, TVs, etc.) when possible, be open to means of communicating other than speech (drawing, gesturing), confirm that you are communicating successfully.

Aphasia does not affect everyone the same. Some people may have difficulty speaking while others have more trouble following a conversation. In some peolpe, the aphasia is so mile it may not be readily noticed, whereas in others, it is severe and affects speaking, writing, reading, and listening.

For more information, contact the Response Center of the National Aphasia Association (NAA) toll-free at (800) 922-4622 or visit their website at