It's a language disorder that affects your ability to communicate. It's most often caused by strokes in the left side of the brain that control speech and language. People with aphasia may struggle with communicating in daily activities at home, socially or at work.

What happens when a stroke affects speech?

Aphasia affects your ability to speak and understand what others say. It can also affect your ability to read and write. It happens when you're no longer able to understand or use language. Aphasia is a common problem after stroke and around a third of stroke survivors have it.

When does speech return after a stroke?

Most individuals see a significant improvement in speech within the first six months of suffering a stroke. During this time, the brain is healing and repairing itself, so recovery is much quicker. But for others, the recovery process can be slow and their aphasia may endure for several more months and even years.