Aphrasia

/əˈfreɪʒə/ noun

Definition

A speech disorder or language impairment; the inability or difficulty in expressing thoughts through spoken or written words.

Etymology

From Greek 'a-' (without) and 'phrasis' (speech or speaking), related to 'phrazein' (to phrase or express). The term reflects medical terminology conventions for language disorders established in the 19th century.

Kelly Says

Aphrasia can result from brain injuries or strokes that damage language centers, and studying patients with aphrasia has actually revealed *how* the brain organizes language—it's like a natural experiment in neuroscience.

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