Bruce Willis, the Hollywood star of “Die Hard” and “Sixth Sense” quits acting due to aphasia. This was announced in recent days by family members on social networks. According to the MSD manual, theaphasia «Is the partial or complete loss of the ability to express or understand written or verbal words. It is caused by damage to the areas of the brain that control language. ‘ It is about the areas of Broca (left frontal lobe), Wernicke (left temporal lobe), the connections between these and the surrounding areas such as the posterior lower part of the left parietal lobe in the vast majority of people, with the exception of one third of left-handers. For this people who are affected can have it difficulty reading, writing, speaking, understanding or repeating phrases and words although speech therapy is of great importance and can help recover these faculties, especially after certain situations.
The causes of aphasia
The causes of aphasia – which they suffer from about 150 thousand people in Italy to which are added 20 thousand diagnoses a year – usually are traumaticthat is, derived from disorders that do not cause progressive damage: stroke (aphasia occurs in 30% of those affected), head trauma, encephalitis. But it can also bind to a progressive disorder, such as a tumor or brain hemorrhage that gradually spreads, and can progressively get worse. Also some types of dementia and in general of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease or atherosclerosis can cause aphasia marked by this dynamic and therefore more difficult to treat than in the case of non-progressive trauma. In any case, nature and level of difficulty may vary. We do not know what are the reasons behind the aphasia that struck Bruce Willis, so nothing can be said about the possibilities of recovery of the 67-year-old American actor.
Among other things, there are two main types of aphasia: that of Wernickealso called receptive, manifests itself in the difficulty understanding written and spoken language. Patients speak and write in an apparently fluent manner but made up of confusing and incomprehensible sentences that they may not be aware of.
The one of Broca instead it is expressive. In this case the meaning of the words is understood, and it is understood how to answer, but it is difficult to find the terms to express what you want to say (writing is usually more difficult to recover). So there is a lack of rhythms and fluidity but, despite the difficulties, there is instead a sense that the patient intends to communicate and of which he is aware.
The consequences of aphasia can be many others: for example the loss of the ability to understand written words, to remember and indicate the name of objects and, in the most serious forms, the loss of all linguistic skills (global aphasia).
How can aphasia be treated
The chances of recovery depend on several factors: the causesL’entity and the site of the damage, the level of speech impairment and the response to treatments. Other factors, to a lesser extent, can also contribute to the success of rehabilitation (age, health status, level of education). Among the main treatments there are obviously the resolution or cure of the cause (in the example of the tumor, trying to reduce the mass that presses on the areas dedicated to language), the speech therapy especially in cases of non-progressive brain trauma (the earlier speech therapy is started, the better the effectiveness) anduse of communication devices as alternative channels to be able to resume using letters, symbols and images to express oneself with the world in the most serious cases.
Diagnosis of aphasia occurs through specific tests and exams able to assess language performance and others neuropsychological tests for brain capabilities, as well as imaging tests such as tomography and MRI scans to detect brain damage. They are important tests that serve to distinguish aphasia from other pathologies such as hearing, vision or la dysarthriawhich concerns injuries to nerves and muscles and therefore affects the physical ability to speak and not brain trauma.
Aphasics and the tragedy of “exclusion”
“The causes of aphasia can regress thanks to medical intervention and the speech disorder can improve following rehabilitation treatment, but it is very common to observe an incomplete remission of the disorder. – you can read on the website ofAita, the federation that gathers the Italian associations of aphasics – due to their communication difficulties, often the aphasic person “disappears” – no longer interacts with their loved ones, does not re-enter the working environment, excludes or is excluded from their own sphere social, often effectively renounces their rights. Because of that, the aphasic remains isolated in suffering; he lives only as a sick individual, and no longer as a “whole” person ».
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Source: Vanity Fair
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