Aphasia is a condition in which language cognition is disturbed as a particular part of the brain responsible for communication is affected. The condition has an impact on the way one writes and communicates verbally. The words conveyed and the context will lack coordination due to aphasia. Aphasia is most likely to affect people in their mid-age or older.

Bruce Willis’ Aphasia Disorder

American actor Bruce Willis, who has appeared in films like Die Hard, Pulp Fiction, The Sixth Sense, and Unbreakable, had to give up acting after being diagnosed with aphasia. As an actor, his career revolves around language and comprehension. It is unknown whether Bruce Willis developed the condition as a result of a stroke or another injury.

What kind of aphasia does Willis have?

It is difficult to tell from the information at hand what kind of aphasia Bruce Willis has; It is unclear what exactly caused the illness, including the type and location of the affected brain regions.

Causes of Aphasia 

A stroke or a head injury is most likely to trigger aphasia; where the function of a particular component of the brain is disturbed- the left side is usually responsible for language comprehension and speech. The course of a disease, tumor growth, and other circumstances have an impact on how well the brain functions. 

Types of Aphasia

There are two broad categories of aphasia: fluent and non-fluent aphasia:

The common type of fluent aphasia is Wernicke aphasia, where the posterior temporal lobe of the brain is affected. The ability to comprehend turns dull. This type of aphasia makes individuals speak long sentences that lack meaning. The individual lacks awareness of the wordy mistakes made.

The common type of aphasia under the category of non-fluent is Broca’s aphasia, also known as expressive aphasia, where the frontal lobe of the brain is affected. Those with this type of aphasia will comprehend speech but cannot reciprocate. There will be an elimination of certain words while speaking, but the context of the statement uttered is understandable. 

Aphasia symptoms

  • Unable to understand a conversation
  • Unable to read and write efficiently
  • Replacing one word with another
  • Lack of clarity in speech
  • Cutting down words or sentences 
  • Elongated sentences with a lack of meaning (in some cases)
  • Difficulty in looking for words

Depending on the type of aphasia a person has, the symptoms will differ from person to person.

Aphasia treatment

Speech and language therapy can aid in the improvement of the condition, as aphasia lowers cognitive function. The treatments expose the patients to language and help the brain recover its memory of the language. According to research, medications are effective in terms of improving the flow of blood to the brain and enhancing the chemicals that are lacking in the brain for better coordination between neurotransmitters.

Diagnosing aphasia

When a condition such as a brain tumor or stroke, which may have caused the problem, is treated, aphasia is typically detected. Furthermore, tests like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and positron emission tomography (PET) will assist in understanding the severity of the condition and confirming the diagnosis.

This blog hopes to bring awareness to people. Please visit a doctor immediately if you have any symptoms of aphasia.