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What is it? -

Aphasia is a condition that affects the ability to communicate, both verbally and in writing. It can affect one’s capacity to speak, write, and understand language in general, including expression and comprehension.

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How does it happen? -

Aphasia usually occurs following a stroke or a head injury, though it can also happen gradually as a result of a degenerative condition, including a slow-growing brain tumor or another disease, such as Alzheimer’s.

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How bad is it? -

The severity of aphasia typically depends on a number of other factors, including how much brain damage the patient has suffered.

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What are the symptoms? -

A person suffering from aphasia may have trouble completing sentences, or they might say sentences that don’t make sense. They might also forget words, substitute words, and even use unrecognizable words.

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What are the symptoms? -

Those suffering from aphasia might not understand a conversation. They might also write sentences that don’t make sense.

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Different patterns -

Patients might have different patterns of strengths and weaknesses, which can be divided into several categories, the main ones being expressive aphasia, comprehensive aphasia, and global aphasia.

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Expressive aphasia -

Also known as Broca's or nonfluent aphasia, this pattern refers to patients who can understand other people, but have difficulties in expressing themselves. People with this pattern may also show signs of right-sided paralysis or weakness.

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Comprehensive aphasia -

Also known as fluent or Wernicke's aphasia, people with this pattern might speak in long, complex sentences. They might use words that don't make sense, and usually have trouble understanding spoken language. Patients might also not realize that other people can't understand them.

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Global aphasia -

This is the most debilitating form of aphasia, which translates into serious difficulties in expression and comprehension. People with global aphasia usually have suffered serious damage to the brain's language networks.

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How is it treated? -

First, the cause must be identified and addressed (e.g. stroke or brain tumor). Then the typical treatment usually includes both speech and language therapy.

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Treatment -

Impairment-based therapies are often used to improve language functions. These consist of stimulating listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.

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Impairment-based therapies -

Examples of impairment-based therapies include: constraint-induced therapy (CIT), melodic intonation therapy (MIT), and telerehabilitation.

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Treatment -

Communication-based (also called consequence-based) therapies are also used to treat aphasia patients. The aim is to improve communication and engage caregivers, such as family members, in the process. These therapies often consist of interactions involving real-life situations.

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Communication-based methods -

Examples of communication-based methods include: PACE (Promoting Aphasics’ Communicative Effectiveness) therapy, conversational coaching, and supported conversation.

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Bruce Willis -

The Hollywood star has stepped down from his acting career after being diagnosed with aphasia.

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Bruce Willis -

The announcement was made on Instagram by Willis' eldest daughter with Demi Moore, actress Rumer Willis. The post reads: "To Bruce’s amazing supporters, as a family we wanted to share that our beloved Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities. As a result of this and with much consideration Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him."

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Bruce Willis -

"This is a really challenging time for our family and we are so appreciative of your continued love, compassion and support. We are moving through this as a strong family unit, and wanted to bring his fans in because we know how much he means to you, as you do to him. As Bruce always says, “Live it up” and together we plan to do just that," added Rumer Willis. He later received a further diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia which is often linked to aphasia. 

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Sharon Stone -

Bruce Willis is not alone. Sharon Stone suffered a brain aneurysm back in 2001. The hemorrhage affected Stone's ability to read and speak. She also developed a stutter and couldn't read for two years.

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Sharon Stone -

"I became more emotionally intelligent," said Stone. "I chose to work very hard to open up other parts of my mind. Now I’m stronger. And I can be abrasively direct. That scares people, but I think that’s not my problem. It’s like, I have brain damage; you’ll just have to deal with it."

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Emilia Clarke -

The 'Game of Thrones' actress suffered an uncommon type of stroke called a subarachnoid hemorrhage back in 2011 while working out.

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Emilia Clarke -

The English actress couldn't even remember her name after the accident. "Instead, nonsense words tumbled out of my mouth and I went into a blind panic. I’d never experienced fear like that—a sense of doom closing in," Clarke said.

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Randy Travis -

The country music star suffered a stroke in 2013, which seriously affected his ability to talk and to comprehend language. Travis opened up about it in his 2019 memoir 'Forever and Ever, Amen: A Memoir of Music, Faith, and Braving the Storms of Life.'

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Randy Travis -

"In my case, my brain was functioning, and I could understand what Mary [Travis’s wife] said to me, but I could not respond in anything close to a sentence. When we first returned home, I could barely speak at all. We spent three months in speech therapy before I learned to say the letter 'A.' Eventually, after about a year and a half, I could say 'yup,' 'nope,' and 'bathroom.' I could also say 'I love you' and a few other phrases but not much more. All this was extremely frustrating for me; I felt like I was trapped inside the shell of my body," Travis wrote.

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Gabby Giffords -

The former politician was shot in the head while hosting her first "Congress on Your Corner" event in Tucson, Arizona, in January 2011. Giffords was left with severe brain damage, which affected her ability to speak.

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Gabby Giffords -

"Aphasia really sucks. The words are there in my brain. I just can't get them out. I love to talk. I'm gabby, " Giffords said. Part of her recovery is covered in the 2022 documentary 'Gabby Giffords Won’t Back Down.'

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Michael Hayden -

The four-star general and former director of the CIA and the NSA suffered a stroke in 2018.

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Michael Hayden -

"I am grateful that the stroke did not take my ability to understand and process and that my higher-level thinking was not affected," Hayden said in 2019. "I am grateful my memory is strong. I am grateful to be a part of an aphasia study at Georgetown and for my therapists who have helped me come so far. I am grateful for my friends and colleagues who continue to call and visit and speak with me. With every conversation I become stronger," he added.

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Mark McEwen -

The former weatherman and entertainment reporter known for shows such as 'This Morning' and 'The Early Show' suffered a stroke in 2005. After a long recovery, McEwen became a stroke awareness activist. He wrote on his website that singing helped him recover.

Sources: (National Aphasia Association) (Mayo Clinic) (People) (Everyday Health)

See also: Celebs who struggle with Lyme disease

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