Aphasia is a type of speech-language disorder. It comes in several different forms, depending on what area of the brain is affected. While patience and therapy can often return language abilities to some form of normalcy, every instance is different. Understanding what caused the aphasia may help create a more effective treatment plan. Here’s a look at some common causes of aphasia.
Stroke
Having a stroke is one of the most common causes of aphasia. In fact, almost half of those who survive having a stroke wind up with some form of aphasia. Strokes come in a range of severity and placement, but ultimately having a stroke is like having a heart attack -- except in your brain. An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot moves up the blood vessels into the brain. It gets stuck, interrupting blood flow. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel becomes weak and bursts or an aneurysm occurs. No matter which form of stroke occurs, it cuts off the new flow of blood, and thus new oxygen. Without receiving fresh oxygen, brain cells begin to die quickly. Exactly where the damage occurs and for how long can all affect which type of aphasia develops and the severity with which it occurs.
Brain Damage
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is another leading cause of aphasias. Serious trauma to the skull can cause damage to areas of the brain in charge of language, not to mention other issues. However, the brain can also be affected by an infection, which can cause damage to significant portions of the brain. Brain tumors can also develop, and these can cause significant aphasic problems. When something like TBI or a tumor develops, aphasia is generally not the only sign of something gone awry. Individuals who have undergone some type of damage to the brain generally exhibit other forms of cognitive deficit, such as memory loss, behavior change, balance issues, and many other potential problems.
Degenerative Diseases
Degenerative diseases tend to end up causing a specific type of aphasia that does not get better and is relatively global in its communication interference. According to the National Aphasia Association, primary progressive aphasia (PPA) most often results from degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease or Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration.
These diseases slowly interfere with the brain, taking away many functions that are taken for granted. The parts of the brain pertinent to language and communication begin to deteriorate. Unlike other types of brain damage, there isn’t much that can be done to reverse or even halt this deterioration. The NAA also states that these language issues are often among the first signs of a degenerative disease, although many other symptoms are likely to follow.
Temporary Aphasias
Not all aphasias are persistent, permanent, or progressive. Some don’t even require extensive sessions of therapeutic exercises to relearn communication. Migraines, a type of severe headache, can interfere with function enough to cause a temporary aphasia. It is important to note that part of this may be due to so much focus on the brain pain that there is a distinct lack of effort put into grammatical accuracy and extensive vocabulary.
Other issues that can cause temporary aphasias include seizures, which are periods of extreme activity in the brain’s neurons. Seizures may be periods of staring into space, or unconscious episodes of full body convulsion. Seizures often render the individual unable to speak during the seizure, but some can even interfere with the brain enough to cause a temporary aphasia after the seizure. Transient ischemic attacks (TIA) can also cause temporary aphasias; a TIA is a temporary loss of blood to part of the brain and can be an indicator of a stroke. If you or a loved one have been experiencing speech production or comprehension problems, talk to your doctor immediately.
