Aphasia (pronounced ‘uh-FAY-zhuh’) is a communication disorder that can be caused by a stroke, tumour, brain injury, or more rarely by a neurodegenerative disease (primary progressive aphasia). It affects a person’s ability to use language. Consequently, a person may experience difficulties with speaking, understanding others, reading, writing and using numbers.

Aphasia does not affect intelligence or memory, but the impact depends on the cause, location and extent of the damage.

It is a frustrating impairment because people with aphasia know what they want to say and can make their own decisions. Aphasia can range from mild to severe and may affect one or more aspects of communication.