aphasia

[ uh-fey-zhuh ]

noun

, Pathology.

1. an impairment of a previously held ability to produce or understand spoken, written, or signed language, due to disease or injury of the brain.

aphasia

/ əˈfeɪzɪə /

noun

1. a disorder of the central nervous system characterized by partial or total loss of the ability to communicate, esp in speech or writing Compare alexia

aphasia

/ ə-fā′zhə /

1. Partial or total loss of the ability to articulate ideas or comprehend spoken or written language, resulting from damage to the brain that is caused by injury or disease.

Derived Forms

• aˈphasiˌac, adjectivenoun

Word History and Origins

Origin of aphasia¹

First recorded in 1865–70; from Greek: literally “speechlessness,” equivalent to a- a- ⁶ + phat(ós) “spoken” (derivative of phánai “to speak”) + -ia -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of aphasia¹

C19: via New Latin from Greek, from a- ¹+ -phasia, from phanai to speak

Example Sentences

Bruce Willis showed signs of decline years before his aphasia diagnosis — but another condition he’d had since childhood kept wife Emma Heming Willis’ concerns at bay.

From Los Angeles Times

Demi Moore has offered an update on Bruce Willis’ health, more than two years after the “Die Hard” actor was diagnosed with aphasia.

From Los Angeles Times

In March, she sent love to her father in an Instragram comment; Willis has been diagnosed with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia.

From Los Angeles Times

Strokes and other forms of brain damage can wipe out the language network, leaving people struggling to process words and grammar, a condition known as aphasia.

From New York Times

Melodic intonation therapy, for instance, is a promising approach to train people with aphasia to sing what they want to say, using their intact "musical mechanisms" to bypass damaged speech mechanisms.

From Science Daily