aphasia

noun

apha·sia | \ ə-ˈfā-zh(ē-)ə

Definition of aphasia

medical : loss or impairment of the power to use or comprehend words usually resulting from brain damage (as from a stroke, head injury, or infection) Aphasia, the cruel illness resulting from a stroke, allowed Jean to understand what was said to her but prevented her from clearly replying.— Robert Giroux

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Examples of aphasia in a Sentence

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Those with aphasia, who’ve lost the ability to speak, sometimes can sing familiar songs, and some can eventually be taught to transition from singing to talking. — Robert Mccoppin, chicagotribune.com, "Music can call back loved ones lost in Alzheimer's darkness: 'So much we can do to improve quality of life'," 11 June 2018 Those with aphasia, who’ve lost the ability to speak, sometimes can sing familiar songs, and some can eventually be taught to transition from singing to talking. — Robert Mccoppin, chicagotribune.com, "Music can call back loved ones lost in Alzheimer's darkness: 'So much we can do to improve quality of life'," 11 June 2018 Those with aphasia, who’ve lost the ability to speak, sometimes can sing familiar songs, and some can eventually be taught to transition from singing to talking. — Robert Mccoppin, chicagotribune.com, "Music can call back loved ones lost in Alzheimer's darkness: 'So much we can do to improve quality of life'," 11 June 2018 The patient who had the hemorrhage suffered aphasia — brain damage that makes speaking and communication difficult — but was still alive more nearly five years later. — NBC News, "Modified polio vaccine helps fight deadly brain tumors," 26 June 2018 Those with aphasia, who’ve lost the ability to speak, sometimes can sing familiar songs, and some can eventually be taught to transition from singing to talking. — Robert Mccoppin, chicagotribune.com, "Music can call back loved ones lost in Alzheimer's darkness: 'So much we can do to improve quality of life'," 11 June 2018 These situations aren’t hypothetical for the more than 1 million Americans with aphasia, which affects the ability to understand and speak with others. — Erin Blakemore, Washington Post, "Aphasia makes you lose your words after brain damage," 8 July 2018 Many people make significant recoveries from aphasia after a stroke, for example. — Erin Blakemore, Washington Post, "Aphasia makes you lose your words after brain damage," 8 July 2018 More than a quarter had speech difficulties called aphasia. — NBC News, "Modified polio vaccine helps fight deadly brain tumors," 26 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'aphasia.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.