Aphasia - speech disorder & communication disorder

Central speech disorder and communication failure

As aphasias, acquired, central speech disorders are referred to, which occur mainly due to damage of limited brain areas, especially after strokes. Depending on the affected area, motor, sensory, global and amnestic aphasia are divided into typical symptom complexes, although the course of the speech disorder is very individual on closer examination. Less common are childhood aphasia, which is often the cause of an accidental injury.

contents

• Central speech disorder and communication failure
• Stroke is considered the main cause of aphasic disorders
• Aphasia as a communication disorder

Stroke is considered the main cause of aphasic disorders

Aphasia literally means "without language" and can basically affect people of all ages. The incidence of aphasias is not uniform in terms of numbers; in Germany, approximately 50,000 aphasics requiring treatment are to be expected solely from strokes (Springer, Schrey-Dern 2006). The cerebral infarction (apoplexy), which is referred to by medical laypeople as a "stroke", which is mainly due to the occlusion of arteries in a (usually the left) half of the brain, makes up the majority of causes with 80%. Men are affected more frequently than women. According to an estimate by the Federal Association for Aphasia e.V., the frequency in children is about 3000 aphasia annually, especially as a consequence of craniocerebral trauma. Furthermore come as causes brain inflammation or brain tumors in question.

Aphasia as a communication disorder

Two thirds of aphasia are the most common neuropsychological syndromes. Considering the importance of language in interpersonal relationships, be it professional or private, aphasia can be described as a communication disorder with far-reaching psychosocial consequences. In addition to the actual speech disorder, it often comes to further disorders and limitations due to the brain damage, namely perceptual disorders and paralysis of a half of the body and facial (hemiparesis) and the speech organs (tongue, lips, throat, larynx).

The language and communication disorder in the form of aphasia is often very stressful for those affected. (Picture credits: Rainer Sturm / pixelio.de)

The coordination of movements, e.g. for speech, including vocalization and breathing (dysarthria, dysarthrophonia), may be disturbed. Dysphagia may occur, and concentration and memory are also affected. With each further of the mentioned disturbances the competence decreases, linguistically and non-linguistically, e.g. with gestures and facial expression, to communicate. Frequently, relatives report mood swings and personality changes of the person concerned, although it is not always clear whether they should be assessed as a direct result of brain damage or secondarily as a response to the disability. In any case, aphasia is a more or less big change for both the sufferer and his environment that needs to be addressed. Significant for everyday life and speech therapy is the fact that in multilingual aphasic the mother tongue is best preserved. (Dipl.Päd. Jeanette Viñals Stein, non-medical practitioner)

Sources and further information:
L. Springer, D. Schrey-Dern (ed.): Clinic and rehabilitation of aphasia, Georg Thieme Verlag KG 2006
Online presence of the Federal Association for the Rehabilitation of the Aphasiker e.V. www.aphasiker.de
Masuhr, Neumann: Neurology, Thieme 2007

Continue reading:
Aphasia: forms and symptoms
Aphasia: treatment options