Aphasia affects communication

Bruce Willis has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, a disorder that stems from damage to parts of the brain responsible for speaking, writing and understanding language.

About 180,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with aphasia every year. It can occur after a sudden emergency, like a stroke or a head injury, or come on more slowly over time. It can affect people of any age but is more common in middle-aged or older individuals.