June is Aphasia Awareness Month

Aphasia is a communication disorder that affects a person’s ability to speak, understand, read, or write. It’s not a problem with intelligence—it’s a language issue caused by damage to the brain, most often due to stroke, traumatic brain injury, or neurodegenerative disease.

More than 2 million Americans live with aphasia, yet many people have never heard of it. That’s why June—Aphasia Awareness Month—is so important. It’s a time to shine a light on this often-misunderstood condition and advocate for those affected.

What Does Aphasia Look Like?

Aphasia can look very different from person to person. Some may have difficulty finding the right words (expressive aphasia), while others may struggle to understand spoken or written language (receptive aphasia). Some individuals may say words fluently but out of order or without meaning, while others speak in short, halting phrases.

Communication Tips:

• Be patient and give the person extra time to respond

• Use gestures, drawings, or written words to support understanding

• Don’t pretend to understand—ask for clarification

• Focus on connection, not perfection

Speech Therapy Can Help

With support from speech-language pathologists, individuals with aphasia can improve their communication and regain confidence. Therapy often focuses on functional communication, helping people express their needs and connect with others in meaningful ways.

Reference:

National Aphasia Association — www.aphasia.org