Aphasia is not a disease, but a symptom of brain damage. Most commonly seen in adults who have suffered a stroke, aphasia can also result from a brain tumor, infection, head injury, or dementia that damages the brain. It is estimated that about 1 million people in the United States today suffer from aphasia. The type and severity of language dysfunction depends on the precise location and extent of the damaged brain tissue. The patient knows what he wants to say, but cannot find the words he needs.
Receptive aphasia involves difficulty understanding spoken or written language.
The patient hears the voice or sees the print but cannot make sense of the words. Global aphasia results from severe and extensive damage to the language areas of the brain. Patients lose almost all language function, both comprehension and expression. They cannot speak or understand speech, nor can they read or write. In some instances, an individual will completely recover from aphasia without treatment.