The short answer
If a doctor says aphasia and another says dysphasia, they almost always mean the same thing: a language disorder after damage to the brain, most often from a stroke. The difference is mostly where the doctor trained and where you live.
Where the words come from
- Aphasia: a- (without) + phasis (speech). Older textbooks used it for a complete loss of language.
- Dysphasia: dys- (difficult or impaired) + phasis. Older textbooks used it for a partial loss.
In practice, few people lose all language, and the line between “total” and “partial” was hard to draw. So most speech-language pathologists and doctors in the United States now say aphasia for any amount of language loss. In the UK, Ireland, Australia and elsewhere you will still see dysphasia, especially in hospital notes.
You may also see developmental dysphasia in older writing about children. Today that is called developmental language disorder, which is different from aphasia that happens after a brain injury.
Dysphasia vs. dysphagia: one letter, two different problems
These two words are easy to mix up, and both can show up after a stroke. They are not the same:
| Dysphasia (aphasia) | Dysphagia | |
|---|---|---|
| What it affects | Language: speaking, understanding, reading, writing | Swallowing food, drink or saliva |
| What you might notice | Trouble finding words, wrong words, trouble following talk | Coughing or choking when eating, food sticking, a wet voice after drinking |
| Why it matters | Makes it hard to say what you need or to understand | Can lead to choking, pneumonia or not getting enough food and drink |
| Who helps | A speech-language pathologist | A speech-language pathologist and the medical team |
If you are not sure which word was said, ask the care team to spell it or to explain it in plain words. Signs of a swallowing problem, like choking or coughing with meals, should be raised with a doctor quickly.
Other look-alike words
| Term | What is affected |
|---|---|
| Dysarthria | The muscles used for speech, so speech sounds slurred or weak |
| Apraxia of speech | Planning the mouth movements for speech |
| Dysphonia | The voice: hoarse, strained or weak |
| Aphonia | The voice is lost completely |
Any of these can happen together with aphasia. A speech-language pathologist can tell them apart.
Common questions
Is dysphasia the same as aphasia?
Yes, in everyday medical use. Both words describe a language disorder caused by damage to the brain. Aphasia is the usual word in the United States; dysphasia is more common in the UK and some other countries.
What is the difference between dysphasia and dysphagia?
Dysphasia is a language problem: trouble speaking, understanding, reading or writing. Dysphagia is a swallowing problem: trouble moving food or drink safely from the mouth to the stomach. The words differ by one letter, but they are different conditions.
Why do some doctors say dysphasia?
Some doctors learned that dysphasia means a partial loss of language and aphasia a total loss. That difference is rarely used now, and many clinicians, including most in the United States, use aphasia for any amount of language loss.
Can someone have both aphasia and dysphagia?
Yes. A stroke can affect both language and swallowing at the same time. A speech-language pathologist often treats both, so it helps to ask the care team which one they mean.
How ExpressAgain can help
Whatever the chart says, aphasia or dysphasia, the need is the same: a way to say what you mean. ExpressAgain lets a person read and choose words and phrases, and then says them out loud. Its Medical Words section explains hospital words in plain language, with questions to ask the care team (see Medical Words in the Help Center).
Keep reading
More about aphasia
- Understanding aphasia: the overview
- What is aphasia?: The meaning of aphasia, its medical definition, and what the inability to speak is called.
- Types of aphasia: Broca's, Wernicke's and global aphasia, plus anomic, conduction, transcortical and primary progressive aphasia.
- Aphasia causes: Stroke, head injury, tumors, infections and progressive conditions, and why sudden changes are an emergency.
- ExpressAgain for aphasia: how the app's aphasia mode works
- ExpressAgain after a stroke: communication through recovery
Sources
- NIDCD (National Institutes of Health): Aphasia
- NIDCD (National Institutes of Health): Developmental Language Disorder
- National Aphasia Association: Glossary of Aphasia Terms
- MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine): Swallowing Disorders
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Speech impairment in adults
- American Stroke Association: Aphasia and Stroke
Last reviewed . This page is general information written in plain language from the sources above. It is not medical advice and cannot diagnose anyone. Talk with a doctor or a speech-language pathologist about your own situation. If speaking or understanding suddenly becomes hard, call 911.