Anomic Aphasia

What Is It?

A mild aphasia marked by significant difficulty with word retrieval, while comprehension and grammatical skills are relatively preserved.

So What Does That Look Like?

Anomic aphasia is characterized primarily by difficulty finding words, particularly nouns and specific names.

Language Skills Affected

Naming Ability, Word Finding/Retrieval

Key Characteristics

  • Speech pattern: Fluent with normal grammar and rhythm
  • Word-finding: Significant trouble retrieving specific words
  • Circumlocution: Talking around a word they cannot find (e.g., "the thing you use to tell time" for "watch")
  • Comprehension: Usually good understanding of both spoken and written language
  • Awareness: Typically aware of word-finding difficulties

How It Impact's Daily Life

Conversations may take longer as the person struggles to find the right words. They might use vague terms like "thing" or "stuff" or describe an object instead of naming it.

Treatment Approaches & Exercises That May Help

  • Naming drills with timed responses
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