Aphasia

Diagnosis of Aphasia

Diagnosis of aphasia begins with a physical and neurological exam by a healthcare provider. They will assess strength, reflexes, sensation, and listen to the heart and neck vessels. Imaging tests such as MRI or CT scans are used to identify the cause of brain injury.

A speech-language pathologist performs a comprehensive language assessment to confirm aphasia and guide treatment. The assessment evaluates whether the person can:

Name common objects
Engage in conversation
Understand and use words correctly
Answer questions about what is read or heard
Repeat words and sentences
Follow instructions
Answer yes/no and open-ended questions
Read and write

Diagnostic tools include:

Brain CT scan
Brain MRI
Neurological examinations

Treatment of Aphasia

Treatment focuses on restoring communication skills and learning new ways to communicate. Recovery depends on the severity and location of brain damage.

Speech and language therapy:

Helps restore as much language as possible.
Teaches compensatory communication strategies.
Starts early for best results.
Often conducted in group settings to practice real-world communication.
May include computer-assisted therapy for relearning words, verbs, and sounds.

Medications (under investigation):

Drugs that improve blood flow or enhance brain recovery.
Examples studied in small trials: memantine (Namenda), donepezil (Aricept), galantamine (Razadyne), piracetam.
More research is needed before routine use.

Other treatments under research:

Brain stimulation techniques such as:
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
- Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)
Aim to stimulate damaged brain areas and improve naming and communication skills.

Recovery notes: