What is aphasia?
Aphasia (pronounced "a-fay-zha") is a communication disorder. It can result in difficulty speaking, writing, reading or understanding spoken language. Aphasia is caused by brain injury, usually stroke or head trauma.
Aphasia (pronounced "a-fay-zha") is a communication disorder. It can result in difficulty speaking, writing, reading or understanding spoken language. Aphasia is caused by brain injury, usually stroke or head trauma.
Intelligence and reasoning are usually intact, but loss of communication can result in:
depression
social isolation
marital stress
disrupted family relationships
loss of personal identity
loss of employability
Over 50,000 Canadians suffer a stroke each year, and approximately 75% of those who survive have a chronic disability as a result. Many of these people are afflicted with aphasia. It is estimated that roughly 3,500 people in the Ottawa area are directly affected. Many more family members suffer indirectly as they struggle to maintain their relationship with a loved one who can no longer communicate as before.
