Aphasia Awarenes Month

by Abigail Knowles Wolfe (BPRW)

The month of June recognizes National Aphasia Awareness Month, as declared by Congress, to raise awareness of this most difficult disorder that is most often a result of stroke, brain damage or a brain tumor. African Americans can be particularly prone to aphasia due to a higher incidence of diabetes and hypertension experienced within this demographic. Hypertension and diabetes both often result in stroke.

Aphasia is a curious word to roll off of the tongue, yet many people may not know what it means or that it is a disorder at all. Aphasia is, in fact, an acquired communication disorder that impairs an individual’s ability to process language, adversely affecting the ability of a person to speak and understand others. Aphasia does not however affect intelligence at all although many people with aphasia experience difficulty reading and writing as well.

The NAA or National Aphasia Institute strives to educate the public while building awareness. The NAA makes every effort to help people with aphasia recover lost skills while compensating for those communication skills that will not be recovered in addition to minimizing the social and psychological impact that language impairment has on those suffering from aphasia. People with aphasia, their loved ones, and health care professionals will be made duly aware of the resources available to them this June as the NAA and other advocacy groups provide services and support to all persons of aphasia regardless of ethnicity, gender or social class. With a high incidence rate and relatively low public awareness, understanding is primary and support secondary to helping those suffering from aphasia live more fulfilling lives.