aphasia

/æ'feizjə/
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aphasia

A woman with aphasia struggles to find the right words during a conversation.

Definition

Noun: - A medical condition characterized by the loss or impairment of the ability to use or comprehend language (both spoken and written), typically resulting from brain damage, such as a stroke or head injury.

Usage
  • Aphasia is used as a non-count noun to describe the condition itself.
  • It is a clinical term used in medical, neurological, and speech-language pathology contexts.
Examples
  • The stroke left him with aphasia, making it difficult for him to find the right words.
  • Speech therapy can be very helpful for people recovering from aphasia.
  • There are different types of aphasia, such as Broca's aphasia and Wernicke's aphasia.
Advanced Usage
  • Anomic aphasia: A specific type where the primary difficulty is in recalling words, particularly nouns.
  • Global aphasia: A severe form of aphasia where both expression and comprehension are profoundly impaired.
  • Primary progressive aphasia (PPA): A neurological syndrome where language capabilities slowly and progressively deteriorate.
Variants and Related Words
  • Aphasic (adjective): Relating to or suffering from aphasia.
    • Example: The aphasic patient communicated using gestures.
  • Aphasic (noun): A person who has aphasia.
    • Example: The therapist works with several aphasics.
Synonyms
  • Language impairment: A more general term for difficulties with language.
  • Dysphasia: Sometimes used interchangeably, though it can imply a less severe or partial impairment.
Related Phrases (Not Phrasal Verbs)
  • Suffer from aphasia: To have the condition of aphasia.
    • Example: After the accident, she began to suffer from aphasia.
  • Aphasia therapy: Treatment aimed at improving language skills.
    • Example: He attends aphasia therapy twice a week.
aphasia

A woman with aphasia struggles to find the right words during a conversation.

Noun
  1. inability to use or understand language (spoken or written) because of a brain lesion