National Aphasia Month - June 2025

What is aphasia? Aphasia is often the result of a stroke or brain injury which affects a person's ability to talk, understand, read, write, and use letters or numbers. This usually comes on suddenly but can occur gradually as in cases of primary progressive aphasia.

Some people with aphasia have difficulty with all aspects of communication, others may only experience trouble with one aspect of communication such as talking or listening. While many people with aphasia need more time to comprehend information or more time to find the words they want to say, their intelligence is not affected. It is important to speak to a person with aphasia with respect and allow them the time to respond or understand. Often, when someone meets a person with aphasia, they immediately begin speaking to their caregiver or family member and can treat with person with aphasia like they are not there. It is important to try to include them in conversation and allow them an opportunity to communicate their message because people with aphasia have a lot to communicate!

Here are some strategies to better communicate with someone with aphasia:

• Speak slowly

• Simplify information, but do not speak to them like they are a child

• Allow them extra time to understand and respond

• Allow them to use gestures, sound effects, facial expressions, drawing, or writing to communicate their thoughts, it does not always have to be verbal communication

• Clarify what you think they are saying

It can be challenging to communicate with a person with aphasia but with practice and a little patience, you can help them communicate more successfully.