What is Aphasia?

According to the National Aphasia Association, roughly 2 million people in the United States currently have aphasia, and nearly 180,000 Americans acquire it each year. More people have aphasia than have many other common conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, or muscular dystrophy. Aphasia Awareness Month is an annual awareness campaign that runs every June. This article will delve into what aphasia is and why aphasia awareness is important.

What is Aphasia?

Aphasia is a condition in which someone has difficulty with language due to traumatic brain injury. It is typically caused by stroke or head injury but can also be linked to an underlying medical condition. 

Aphasia affects the ability to use and understand language. It affects speech, writing, conversation, reading, comprehension, and all other types of verbal and written communication.

The most common precursor to aphasia is having sustained a stroke. Aphasia doesn’t happen with every case of stroke, but it is a real danger for survivors. 

A stroke occurs when there is a blockage in the brain arteries causing blood vessels to rupture or be overstretched, causing a blockage in the flow of blood. This block prevents brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients it needs. During a stroke, brain cells die within minutes. Aphasia happens due to brain cell loss.

Why Understanding Aphasia is Important

Aphasia Awareness is important as it can help people with aphasia to feel like part of their community again. It also helps newly-diagnosed people and their families to understand their condition, become advocates, and make educated decisions about treatment. Most of all, it’s a time for people with aphasia to feel heard. 

Many people who have aphasia due to stroke have explained that they feel invisible with people directing any questioning about them to the nearest caregiver. Aphasia Awareness Month is a time for helping people to be more aware of a disorder that can leave its victims “left behind.” A sudden diagnosis like aphasia can cause depression, anxiety, and feelings of despair. It can make a person feel alone in a world that they once very much felt part of. 

It’s important to have awareness and educate ourselves and our families with regards to the nature of aphasia. Why? In order to make the world and your local community more inclusive as a whole. No-one should have to feel like they're forgotten and are being left out of their own life decisions.

At thirty-six years old, Kelly Marsh was a successful businesswoman. Her husband, thirty-nine-year-old Brad Marsh, was a successful entrepreneur and businessman. Life changed drastically for both of them in 2008 when Kelly had a devastating stroke. The book, Love Stroke, co-authored by Kelly and Brad, details their story.

"The best way to describe it is a phenomenon in which you are the center of attention or one of the main attractions of other people’s concern, discussion, or visual attention, but they all operate as if you aren’t even there."

– Kelly Marsh, Co-Author of Love Stroke

Aphasia Awareness

Aphasia is a life-changing condition that cannot be cured but can be managed. Lack of awareness, and the kind of compassion that can only come from understanding the key elements, makes the whole experience more traumatic. Being left out of conversation adds a whole new layer to the diagnosis. 

Awareness has the opportunity to empower those with aphasia and their families, because no person is their diagnosis. People have conditions but that’s just one part of the person’s life. A diagnosis doesn’t include someone’s life story, the love they have from others, the love they have for others; their hopes, dreams, hobbies, values, and personality. Humans are incredible, and in very few situations does a person’s strength shine so bright as is does after a life-changing health condition. 

Why Aphasia Awareness Month is Important

The purpose of Aphasia Awareness Month is to provide opportunities to educate the general public about aphasia, its causes; fundraising events, and available support for those with aphasia and their families. Aphasia Awareness Month has also become a tool to encourage people with aphasia and their families to be advocates for awareness.

Aphasia Awareness Month is  upon us, a month dedicated to raising awareness about disability and its impact. If we all talk about issues that impact those with disabilities, we might be able to do a little good. So let’s do a little good for Aphasia.

For more information about aphasia and Aphasia Awareness Month, head over to the National Aphasia Association website.