Brain infection
How does a brain infection cause aphasia?
Brain infections can cause aphasia if the infection damages or impacts the brain’s language centers. Brain infections can also cause swelling or inflammation, which can impact the parts of the brain responsible for language.
Aphasia caused by a brain infection can happen very quickly. People will usually notice symptoms within hours or days.
Symptoms
How can aphasia appear with a brain infection?
Aphasia caused by a brain infection can impact the use or processing of language in any way, including speaking, understanding, reading, writing, or using numbers/math.
A brain infection that causes aphasia will also usually have other physical symptoms, like:
- Fever
- Sudden headaches
- Stiff neck
- Seizures
- Loss of vision
- Trouble hearing
- Muscle weakness or paralysis
- Personality changes
Brain involvement
Which parts of the brain are affected?
Aphasia with a brain infection happens when the infection causes damage to the parts of the brain responsible for language, usually on the left side of the brain.
A brain infection is usually caused by least one of the following:
- Encephalitis: inflammation of brain tissue
- Meningitis: an inflammation of the brain’s linings
- Brain abscess: a pocket of infection in the brain (often due to bacteria)
If any of these issues is located in the language center of the brain, it can cause aphasia.
Diagnosis
How is aphasia related to a brain infection diagnosed?
Brain infections are diagnosed by a medical professional through an examination. If you have symptoms of a brain infection, they will usually link the aphasia symptoms to that infection.
You will go through a physical exam and a neurological exam. Your medical providers will also review your symptoms and medical history. They will also request that a speech-language pathologist assess the language difficulties and diagnose the aphasia.
In many cases, a medical provider will order a brain scan, such as a CT or MRI, to see what parts of the brain are affected by the infection.
Treatment
How is aphasia treated when caused by a brain infection?
Medical providers will first treat the brain infection that is causing the aphasia. This may be done with antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, or other drugs that can treat bacterial infections or the symptoms of a viral infection.
Usually, aphasia caused by a brain infection will get better when the infection is cleared. However, if the infection is severe, long-term aphasia can be a result.
If you have aphasia caused by a brain infection, you may go through speech therapy with a speech-language pathologist. They will create a treatment plan based on your symptoms and outlook. They may also help you find new ways to communicate or help you retrain your brain and muscles to speak or understand again.
Recovery and prevention
Can aphasia caused by a brain infection improve?
Aphasia caused by a brain infection is likely to improve once the infection has cleared. Some people may have long-term communication challenges if the infection was severe or lasted a long time. If this is a case, speech therapy with a speech-language pathologist can often help improve your communication challenges over time.
Can aphasia related to a brain infection be prevented?
There’s no way to prevent aphasia caused by a brain infection, and it may not be possible to prevent a brain infection. You can reduce your risk by following your medical provider’s advice to prevent or treat brain infection.
People who are most at risk of a brain infection include:
- Young children
- Older adults
- People with compromised immune systems, including people with HIV/AIDS
- People living in areas of the world that have high levels of tick- or mosquito-borne viruses
Living with aphasia caused by a brain infection
What is it like to live with aphasia?
Aphasia can affect your ability to communicate. It may make it difficult to have regular interactions with people. Speech therapy can help you regain your communication abilities or find alternative ways to communicate, if needed. Also, support from caregivers who understand that you have aphasia can help with communication challenges.
What emotional or psychological effects can occur?
Having aphasia can make you feel frustrated, especially if you know what you want to say but can’t say it or if you can’t understand what others are saying. Some people experience depression or anxiety. You may also feel embarrassed or isolated.
