What causes word finding difficulties in adults?

Aphasia results from damage to one or more of the areas of the brain responsible for language. Aphasia can occur suddenly, such as after a stroke (most common cause) or head injury or brain surgery, or may develop more slowly, as the result of a brain tumor, brain infection or neurological disorder such as dementia.

What is word finding difficulty a symptom of?

With anomic aphasia, the person has a hard time finding words. This is called anomia. Because of the difficulties, the person struggles to find the right words for speaking and writing.

What causes difficulty with word retrieval?

Primary word-finding difficulty may occur as an isolated language disturbance or may occur as part of a more extensive cognitive or behavioural syndrome. Secondary word-finding difficulty occurs when a deficit within another cognitive domain interferes with the function of a more or less intact language system.

What is the best treatment for aphasia?

The recommended treatment for aphasia is usually speech and language therapy. Sometimes aphasia improves on its own without treatment. This treatment is carried out by a speech and language therapist (SLT). If you were admitted to hospital, there should be a speech and language therapy team there.

Is word retrieval difficulty normal?

It is normal for word-finding problems to increase as we age. It is normal for us to be slower in processing information as we age. An increase in “tips of the tongue” is evident as early as the mid-thirties. The length of time before the missing word is recalled also increases with age.

Does aphasia get worse over time?

As it’s a primary progressive condition, the symptoms get worse over time. Usually, the first problem people with primary progressive aphasia (PPA) notice is difficulty finding the right word or remembering somebody’s name.

How do you self treat aphasia?

Help the person with aphasia create a book of words, pictures and photos to assist with conversations. Use drawings or gestures when you aren’t understood. Involve the person with aphasia in conversations as much as possible. Check for comprehension or summarize what you’ve discussed.

What does it mean when you forget words?

It is not necessarily a sign of something serious*, but more of an occasional brain glitch. Scientists have found that some things make TOTs more common – such as caffeine, fatigue, and strong emotions – and that words learned later in life are more likely to be forgotten.

How to do functional word finding in therapy?

These can all be ways to target rapid naming/generative naming in a FUNCTIONAL way. Email writing or text messaging prompts. Writing is an important everyday skill that, unfortunately, often gets overlooked in therapy sessions. Try using email prompts or text message prompts to elicit word finding and functional writing.

How to help children with word retrieval difficulties?

The games focus on children connecting words through rhyming words, starting sounds, categories and parts of items to ideas and words they already know. This is a pack of a few word maps and then four games to help children with word finding difficulties or word retrieval difficulties to ‘file’ words in their mind for later use.

How to use word finding strategies for aphasia?

Many of the Tactus Therapy apps for aphasia can be used to practice word-finding strategies in the clinic or at home. To practice describing (strategy #2), giving associates (strategy #3) and naming the category (strategy #9), use the Describe activity in Naming Therapy.

What can I do to help with word finding?

Try using email prompts or text message prompts to elicit word finding and functional writing. You can ask the patient to pretend as if they are sending a text message to a friend to schedule a dinner date or pretend they are reaching out to a meal delivery service to complain about a recent order.