This Communication Disorder Forced Bruce Willis Into Early Retirement
Popular actor Bruce Willis' family recently announced that he was stepping away from his acting career due to a health condition called aphasia. While many people may have been saddened to hear the news, it also left them wondering what the condition is. Here's an overview about what aphasia is and how it affects a person and their loved ones.
What is aphasia?
Aphasia is a communication disorder that affects how someone understands and expresses spoken or written language. It is caused by damage to an area on the left side of the brain that is responsible for language. It does not affect someone's cognitive abilities—only their ability to communicate.
What causes aphasia?
About 2 million Americans have aphasia and the most common cause of the condition is stroke. It may also be caused by injuries or conditions that affect the portion of the brain that controls language, such as brain trauma, brain tumors, brain hemorrhage and neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia or Alzheimer's disease. In some cases, the exact origin is unknown and the condition develops gradually and worsens over time.
What are the symptoms of aphasia?
If you've ever struggled to find the right word to express yourself, you may be concerned that you have aphasia, but this condition goes beyond finding the right word on occasion. Although different people may have different symptoms, here are some of the more common symptoms of aphasia:
- Difficulty remembering names of things
- Not being able to put together sentences to express what you're thinking
- Saying things that don't make sense or have no meaning
- Making up words
- Using words that don't fit in a sentence
- Omitting words from a sentence
- Being unable to understand what people are saying
Is there a cure for aphasia?
If aphasia is caused by a stroke or brain injury, a person may recover as the brain has time to heal. If due to a degenerative condition, there is no cure for aphasia but rehabilitation and speech therapy may help enhance a person's ability to communicate. Treatment is also aimed at educating family members about the problem and providing them with tips on how to better communicate with the patient.
How does aphasia affect the person who has it?
Not being able to easily communicate with others can be extremely frustrating, especially when cognitive abilities are still intact. It can cause people to pull away and makes them feel isolated. However, socialization is one of the best ways to slow progression of the condition. If you know someone who has aphasia, encouraging them to communicate with others as much as possible is important, even though it may be difficult and frustrating.
How does aphasia affect loved ones?
Since aphasia is a communication disorder, it can be especially hard on loved ones. Knowing a person's cognitive abilities are still intact but they have difficulty understanding you or communicating their thoughts and needs can be especially challenging and frustrating. Patience is one of the most important traits you need to have when someone you love has aphasia. Try to get into the habit of speaking slowly and keeping sentences short and simple. Repeat yourself when necessary. Give someone extra time to respond. Find nonverbal ways to communicate as appropriate, such as drawing images. Don't make frequent corrections of words when spoken incorrectly. Encourage as much independence as possible.
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Date Last Reviewed: April 18, 2022
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