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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffA person with aphasia may:
- Speak in short or incomplete sentences
- Speak in sentences that don't make sense
- Speak unrecognizable words
- Not comprehend other people's conversation
- Interpret figurative language literally
- Write sentences that don't make sense
The severity and scope of the problems depend on the extent of damage and the area of the brain affected. Some people may comprehend what others say relatively well but struggle to find words to speak. Other people may speak more clearly than they can write.
Your doctor may refer to one of three broad categories of aphasia — nonfluent, fluent and global — that describe what region of the brain was damaged and how communication is usually affected. The two primary language networks for most people are located in the brain's left hemisphere.
- Nonfluent aphasia. Damage to the language network near the left frontal area of the brain usually results in Broca aphasia. It's also called nonfluent aphasia. People with this disorder struggle to get words out, speak in very short sentences and leave out words. A person might say, "Want food" or "Walk park today." Although the sentences aren't complete, a listener can usually decipher the meaning. A person with Broca aphasia may comprehend what other people say to some degree. They're often aware of their own difficulty in communicating and may get frustrated with these limitations.
- Fluent aphasia. Wernicke aphasia is the result of damage to the language network in the middle left side of the brain. It's often called fluent aphasia. People with this form of aphasia may speak fluently in long, complex sentences that don't make sense or include unrecognizable, incorrect or unnecessary words. They usually don't comprehend spoken language well and often aren't aware of their own difficulty communicating.
- Global aphasia. Global aphasia results from extensive damage to the brain's language networks. People with global aphasia have severe disabilities with expression and comprehension.
