What are the symptoms of aphasia?

What are the symptoms of aphasia?

There are multiple types of aphasia and aphasia-like conditions. While the symptoms of aphasia have many similarities, there are still some important differences. To understand how aphasia works, it helps to understand a little bit about two specific parts of the brain that work together when you talk:

• Broca’s area: This part of the brain gets its name from the French physician who discovered it controls the muscles you use to speak. It’s part of your frontal lobe, usually on the left side just forward of your temple.
• Wernicke’s area: This part of the brain gets its name from the German neurologist who discovered that it controls your ability to understand and select the right words to use when you talk. It’s part of your temporal lobe, also usually on your left side just above your ear.

These two areas of the brain work together to help you speak. Wernicke’s area processes your understanding of words and picks which ones you use, and then it sends signals to Broca's area. Once Broca’s area knows what words to use, it sends the signals to the muscles you use when you speak.