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Language
Language is a very abstract concept and is difficult to define entirely; the simplest accepted definition is the system of rules governing how members of a society or community can use combinations of sounds (speech) and symbols (writing) to convey meaning. Language is different from speech, which is the physical production of the sounds we use to form words, but they are closely connected.
When something disrupts your language system, you can develop a language disorder. Language disorders are related to the brain. They can be present from birth, what we call "developmental," or they can result from brain damage, which we call aphasia.
Continue reading to learn more about aphasia and
how Connections: Speech and Language Therapy can help:
Aphasia is the most common language disorder among adults; there are about 180,000 new cases in the United States each year. Aphasia is a language disorder that is caused by brain damage. The brain has two halves. Most people store language skills in the left half of their brain, and damage to that location can lead to aphasia. People with aphasia might find it difficult to understand others, speak, read, or write. One very important thing to know is that aphasia does not reflect a person's intelligence. Aphasia does not make a person less smart or less able to think and learn.
Signs
Aphasia can lead to problems in a number of language areas. A person with aphasia may have trouble talking, understanding, reading, and/or writing.
Talking
Reading & Writing
Understanding
- Having trouble thinking of the words they want to say.
- Saying the wrong word.
- Switching or changing sounds in words.
- Using made-up words.
- Having trouble saying sentences.
- Speaking in single words
- Putting words in the wrong order.
- Using empty words like "thing" and "doohickey" instead of an item's name.
Understanding
Reading & Writing
Understanding
- Difficulty understanding what others say or following a conversation.
- Difficulty understanding what others say when it is noisy or, multiple people are speaking.
- Having trouble understanding jokes or sarcasm.
- Finding it very hard to follow fast speech (e.g., radio or television news)
- Needing extra time to understand spoken messages
Reading & Writing
Reading & Writing
Reading & Writing
- Difficulty writing or copying letters, words, and sentences
- Making spelling errors or writing the wrong word.
- Writing letters upside down, out of order, or backward
- Writing run-on sentences that don't make sense
- Difficulty comprehending written text.
- Finding it hard to recognize some words by sight
- An inability to sound out words
Causes
Strokes are the leading cause of aphasia, particularly strokes on the left side of the brain. That said, any kind of damage to the brain can cause aphasia, including tumors, head trauma, and progressive or degenerative diseases.
How We Help
Diagnosis
Diagnosis
Diagnosis
Only a qualified speech-language pathologist (SLP) can diagnose aphasia, but a medical doctor must determine the underlying cause. Talk to a doctor if you, or a loved one, have trouble speaking or understanding what others say. If you are unsure, you do not need a referral from your doctor to request an appointment with us. Our licensed SLP can conduct a free screening to check your speech and language, then help you make an appointment with a doctor if needed. A screening will also let the SLP know if she needs to complete a full diagnostic examination of your speech or language skills.
To diagnose aphasia, our SLP will use a variety of tests and materials to take a look at how well you:
- Understand words, questions, directions, and stories.
- Say words and sentences.
- Read and write.
- Find other ways to get your message across when others have trouble understanding you.
She will also ask you questions about the problems you encounter, the areas you feel you need to work on, the goals you would like to accomplish in therapy, and more. She will combine all that information and use it to help determine a diagnosis as well as recommendations for treatment and care.
Treatment
Diagnosis
Diagnosis
There are many ways to work on your language. At Connections: Speech and Language Therapy, our SLP will customize your treatment according to your preferences, goals, and areas of concern. After completing a comprehensive evaluation, she will create and provide you with a personalized treatment plan that best addresses your language needs.
During therapy, our SLP will guide you through tasks, activities, and exercises carefully designed to target and help you overcome the parts of language you find challenging. She will also provide instructions for exercises, strategies, and modifications that you, or your loved one, can use at home to help reduce communication problems in daily life.
In the most severe cases, a person with aphasia might need extra help to communicate in a way others can understand. Often, this help comes in the form of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).
AAC includes all the ways a person can express their thoughts and emotions without talking, anything from gestures and facial expressions to advanced, high-tech devices that speak for them. Sometimes, if a person finds it difficult to communicate verbally, they might use AAC to help.
If you or a loved one have trouble communicating, or have an existing diagnosis of aphasia, click the link below to request a consultation
with our speech-language pathologist:
Phone: (859) 626-2271
Hours: M-F 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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