Aphasia is an acquired language disorder caused by damage to the language areas of the brain, typically from a stroke or head injury. It affects an individual's ability to speak, listen, read, and write, but does not impact their intelligence. Aphasia is assessed and treated by speech pathologists, who work with patients to establish individualized therapy goals and help them improve their communication skills or develop compensatory strategies. While its effects vary between people, aphasia always makes communication more difficult and impacts daily life.

1. What is Aphasia?
Information in this presentation is taken from Australian Aphasia Association website | www.aphasia.org.au
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2. Aphasia is an acquired
language disorder
People with aphasia may find it
hard to:
– talk
– listen (understand what others say)
– read
– write
– use numbers
Aphasia: Definition
***BUT!! They are still intelligent.
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3. 1) Aphasia affects every person differently. Some
people have only mild difficulties, others have very
severe communication problems.
2) People with aphasia are competent and intelligent.
3) People with aphasia still have thoughts, opinions
and emotions.
Aphasia: Important points!

4. 4) People with aphasia can still solve problems.
5) People with aphasia can still hear and see.
6) People with aphasia can still make decisions.
7) People with aphasia often know what they want to
say, but have difficulties getting their messages out
Aphasia: Important points!

5. Aphasia: Causes
• Aphasia is caused by stroke or other damage to the language
centres of the brain.
• Head injury, tumours, or infections and inflammation in the
brain may be other causes.

6. Aphasia: Statistics
33% of people who
have had a stroke
have aphasia
(Bradley et al, 2012)
It is estimated that
80,000 people in
Australia have aphasia
(SPA, 2010)
US based National Aphasia Association has
calculated prevalence of aphasia to be
equivalent to the combined prevalence of
Parkinson’s disease, Cerebral Palsy and
Muscular Dystrophy.
(CCRE, 2014).

7. Aphasia: Assessment
• Speech pathologists will complete assessments
with people with aphasia to determine what
areas may require therapy.
• Language assessments may look at: listening
and remembering information,
naming objects, reading, writing
or general conversation.
• For some people, not all language
competencies will be impaired.

8. Aphasia: Treatment
• Speech pathologists may be able to support people with aphasia
through speech therapy sessions.
• The speech pathologist and patient will work together to come up
with goals for therapy.
• Therapy will likely focus on the areas of difficulty identified in the
assessment. This will be different for each individual.
• Therapy could be impairment based (targeted at re-learning skills
that were lost) or functional (helping person with aphasia to cope
with lost skills and still manage everyday life).
• Therapy could be individual or group based.

9. Aphasia: Strategies
Strategies to help people with aphasia to communicate and participate in everyday
life:
• Remember to treat people with aphasia as the intelligent adults they are.
• Give people with aphasia lots of time to speak and to understand what has
been said.
• Use plain English.
• Avoid speaking too fast. Use a normal to slow speed of talking.
• Accept when people with aphasia use different ways of communicating other
than speech such as gestures, writing or drawing.
• Maintain a sense of humour

10. Aphasia: Strategies
The following strategies may also help:
• Ask questions that can be answered with a YES or NO (however, be aware that sometimes people
with aphasia confuse these responses).
• Talk in short, clear sentences.
• Don't patronise.
• Reduce background noise and distractions.
• Allow the person with aphasia to speak for himself/herself.
• Include the person with aphasia in conversation. Talk to the person with aphasia, NOT their
companion.
• Don't correct mistakes made by the person with aphasia.
• When needed, check you have understood each other.
• Use gestures, writing or drawing.

11. More Information
• Speech Pathology Australia FACTSHEET:
http://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/library/2013Factsheets/Fact
sheet_Communication_Difficulties_Following_Stroke.pdf
• Australian Aphasia Association:
http://www.aphasia.org.au/
• Centre for Clinical Research Excellence (CCRE) in Aphasia Rehabilitation:
http://www.ccreaphasia.org.au/

12. More support
If aphasia has affected you, or someone you know, please contact
a speech pathologist to receive support specific for the person’s
individual needs.
You can use the ‘Find a Speech Pathologist’ function on the
Speech Pathology Australia website, to find a
Speech Pathologist in your area.