Types of Aphasia

Usually, aphasia can be divided into four broad categories:

 (1) Expressive aphasia involves difficulty in conveying thoughts through speech or writing. The patient knows what he wants to say, but can not find the words he needs.

 (2) Receptive aphasia involves difficulty understanding spoken or written language. The patient hears the voice or sees the print but can not make sense of the words.

(3) Patients with anomic or amnesia aphasia, the least severe form of aphasia, have difficulty in using the correct names for particular objects, people, places, or events.

(4) Global aphasia results from severe and extensive damage to the language areas of the brain. Patients lose almost all language function, both comprehension and expression. They can not speak or understand speech, nor can they read or write.