This document discusses aphasia, which is an acquired language disorder caused by brain damage. Aphasia can develop suddenly after a stroke or head injury, or gradually in patients with neurodegenerative diseases or brain lesions. Treatment depends on the underlying cause but generally includes speech and language therapy. While some drug therapies have shown potential benefits in small studies when combined with therapy, medical treatment of aphasia alone has not proven clearly effective in large trials. The timing and type of interventions for aphasia can vary widely depending on the individual patient.