Fairfax Hospital Neuroscience Services - Inova Health System

Rehabilitation and Recovery
Aphasia
Aphasia means you are having trouble communicating. It may be difficult to talk, understand
speech, read, write, and use numbers when you have aphasia. Aphasia does not change your
intelligence. It just makes it more difficult to share your message with others.
Types of Aphasia
Receptive Aphasia
o You may have trouble understanding what other people say to you. It can be
difficult to follow simple instructions or answer questions with a “yes” or “no”
correctly. You also may have a hard time following conversation. People with this
type of aphasia may also have difficulty with reading.
o This can happen when the area of your brain that helps you understand words and
sentences is damaged after a stroke. This part of your brain is called “Wernicke’s
area.”
Expressive Aphasia
o You may have trouble finding the right word to say at the right time. It can also
feel like you can’t get the word out, and you get stuck. Some people it will happen
only once in a while. For some other people it is difficult to get any words out at
all. People with this type of aphasia may also have difficulty writing.
o This will happen if the area of the brain that produces words and helps form
sentences is damaged after a stroke. This part of your brain is called “Broca’s
area.”
How can I make communicating easier?
Give the patient extra time to speak
Be aware of background noise and turn off radios or TVs while speaking with the patient.
Point to things you are talking about or show pictures if available.
Confirm that you got the message. Ask “yes” and “no” questions to be sure you
understand.
Keep your message short and direct. Try saying, “Do you want lunch”, instead of, “You
had a very busy morning, I’m sure you’ve worked up an appetite. Are you ready for some
lunch?”
If the patient gets stuck on a word, encourage them to try and use a different word that
means the same thing.
Take a break! Getting frustrated or upset will only make it more difficult to speak. It is
ok to take a break until the patient feels ready to try again.
Will my thinking be affected?
Even if you can understand speech and speak well, a stroke may make it difficult to think clearly.
You may find it difficult to remember things or have a hard time solving problems. Some people
become confused easily or have a hard time staying organized. A speech therapist can help you
overcome these things in therapy.
PATIENT INFORMATION GUIDE FOR STROKE
inova.org/neuro