3 ARTICLES ABOUT THE COMMUNICATION DISORDER APHASIA (including Bruce Willis)

ARTICLE #1

TITLE

WHAT IS APHASIA?

DESCRIPTION

In the passed few weeks, there has been news coverage about Bruce Willis retiring from his acting due to aphasia.  This week’s Psychology Update focuses on Aphasia through two important resources and a news story about Bruce Willis.  

This site is a great student (and faculty) resource regarding communication disorders that includes aphasia as well as deafness and other disorders.  It clearly presents a picture of the disorder, symptoms, causes, treatments, and a number of diagrams related to the areas of the brain.  

Psychology students interested in working with these types of disorders will find the site very helpful.

SOURCE

Advancing the science of communication to improve lives

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/aphasia

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ARTICLE #2

TITLE

LEARN ABOUT APHASIA

DESCRIPTION

This is another great site that focuses exclusively on the disorder of aphasia.  It provides a valuable resource for the understanding of the disorder.  Students can use this site in conjunction with the text around disorders, therapy, and the chapters on brain and nervous system.  It can also be part of a discussion of careers in Psychology.

SOURCE

National Aphasia Association

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://www.aphasia.org/aphasia-definitions/

(Tiny URL)  https://tinyurl.com/2945z95b

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ARTICLE #3

TITLE

Difference Between Aphasia, Dementia Explained After Bruce Willis Diagnosis

DESCRIPTION

Sadly in March 2022, the family of Bruce Willis announced that he would be retiring from his notable acting career due to aphasia — a severe communication disorder.  This article discusses Bruce Willis and how aphasia can affect a person’s life.  “There are many causes of aphasia. Sometimes the condition can be caused by a stroke, but it can also be caused by a brain tumor, head injury, or an infection.  Dementia is another medical condition that affects cognitive abilities, including the ability to communicate.  The difference between the two is that aphasia is a symptom—communication difficulty—whereas dementia is a wider umbrella diagnosis for cognitive decline.  “Aphasia is the loss of language abilities due to brain damage, which affects the ability to use words including speaking, understanding speech, reading and writing,” Professor Marian Brady, director of stroke rehabilitation research at Glasgow Caledonian University in the U.K., told Newsweek. “Dementia is an umbrella term for general cognitive decline of which one aspect may be language problems.””

The article includes a brief video explanation of aphasia and possible causes and symptoms.

SOURCE

Newsweek, March 31, 2022, by Ed Browne

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://www.newsweek.com/bruce-willis-difference-between-aphasia-dementia-explained-1693729

(Tiny URL)  https://tinyurl.com/m7xtxfdb

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CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

•What is aphasia?  What are the symptoms, causes, and possible treatments?

•How is aphasia different from dementia?  

•Imagine that you are the Psychologist explaining aphasia to the family of Bruce Willis (or anyone who has presented with the disorder?  How would you explain the disorder in terms of both brain function and everyday living in the social world?