Health encyclopaedia

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

Symptoms of Aphasia

The effects of aphasia can vary widely; some experience only mild effects, perhaps being unable to think of certain words, whereas some are unable to read, write or speak at all.

The two main forms are Broca’s aphasia and Wernicke’s aphasia, and they have quite different symptoms. Broca’s aphasia is caused by damage to the frontal lobe of the brain, leading to difficulty speaking. The person may only be able to use short words and utterances, and the formation of words can be awkward. Their writing ability can also become limited.

Wernicke’s aphasia is caused by damage to the temporal lobe. Someone with this type of aphasia may speak easily, forming long sentences but with little or no meaning. They may use additional, unnecessary words, or create new words. As they have difficulty understanding speech, the person is unlikely to realise that what they said does not make sense to others.

• AbortionAbscessAccident and emergency departmentsAccidents and first aidAccidents to children in the homeAcneAcoustic neuromaActinomycosisAcupunctureAddictionsAddison's diseaseAdenoids and adenoidectomyAgoraphobiaAir embolismAlcohol misuseAllergiesAltitude sicknessAlzheimer's diseaseAmbulance ServiceAmniocentesisAmniotomyAmoebiasisAnaemiaAnaesthesiaAnaesthetic, generalAnaesthetic, localAnal fissureAnal fistulaAnaphylaxisAndrogen insensitivity syndromeAneurysmAnginaAngioedemaAngiographyAnkylosing spondylitisAnorexia nervosaAntacid drugsAntenatal careAntenatal screeningAnti-inflammatories, non-steroidalAnticoagulant drugsAntidepressant drugsAntifungal drugsAntihistamine drugsAnxietyAphasiaApnoeaAppendicitisArthritisArthroscopyArtificial inseminationAsbestosisAspergillosisAsthmaAstigmatismAtherosclerosisAthlete's footAtrial fibrillationAttention deficit hyperactivity disorderAutism

  ---