Aphasia

Aphasia (or dysphasia) is a difficulty with language. A person with Aphasia (probably following a stroke) may have difficulty in speaking, understanding, reading or writing. In short, communication can be a very daunting challenge.

Most of us are instinctively shy when we meet someone with communication difficulties; and yet imagine being in their position. Frustrated because you can't get your point across, although your intellect is quite undamaged; you can't argue, you can't chat with friends as you used to. You know what you want to say, but you can't say it. The telephone can be a nightmare, as can shopping, dealing with money, reading train or bus timetables.

Aphasia can affect relationships, work, personality. The resulting loneliness and isolation affect not only the recoverer's quality of life, but that of family and carers. Sometimes called the 'hidden disability', loss of language is not officially recognized as a disability - despite a quarter of a million people in the UK suffering from dysphasia.