# Aphasia --- **Aphasia** is a communication disorder. It manifests as an inability to [[speech|speak]] or read, or to understand speech or written language. It results from damage to the language centers of the brain, which can be caused by: - [[stroke]] - [[brain]]/head injury - brain tumor - [[neurocognitive disorders]] Aphasia can be very frustrating for the person experiencing them, or their friends and family members. Struggling to simply form sentences can be very tiring. Sometimes patients will become nonverbal as a way of conserving energy and composure. >[!tldr] Nursing considerations >To avoid over tiring a patient, keep communication in short sessions. Also, even if a patient appears to not understand, remember to explain what you're doing in simple terms. ## Expressive Aphasia **Expressive aphasia** (also called **Broca's aphasia** as it's due to damage to [[speech|Broca's area]]) is the the inability to speak. Sometimes this manifests in the inability to find the right words that they want, or to accurately associate words with pictures. Usually they are still able to read and understand. They *know* what they want to say but they can't get it out. Sometimes this manifests in being unable to organize words into meaningful sentences. Sometimes clients will be able to eventually find the right words with the right guidance or support. It doesn't affect intelligence—people with aphasia still think the same way, even if they can't communicate their thoughts easily. ## Receptive Aphasia or Fluent Aphasia **Receptive aphasia** or **fluent aphasia** (called **Wernicke's aphasia** as it's due to damage to [[speech|Wernicke's area]]) is the inability to comprehend written or spoken language, even though they retain the ability to form words/sentences. Patients retain the ability to speak fluently—but often without any real meaning. ## Global Aphasia Often it is that a person has one or the other type of aphasia, but it can be that a person experiences both, or has **global aphasia**. ___