Aphasia is a condition that results in the impairment of a person’s ability to process and comprehend speech. The condition can also impair one’s ability to read and write. Typically, older persons are more likely to suffer aphasia, although the condition can also be triggered by a stroke or brain injury.
There may be several types of impairments that are seen in a case of aphasia. Sometimes, the person may suffer from an inability to string together words into sentences, while in other cases, only the ability to read is impacted. Some individuals with this condition may find it difficult to attach names to objects. Impairments can affect the person’s ability to read or speak, while others may affect the individual’s ability to write, but leave his ability to speak unimpaired. In other types of aphasia, the person may be left with the inability to provide words or sentences for the ideas and thoughts that he wants to express.
Primary progressive aphasia is the kind of aphasia that results after a person has suffered a stroke, or as a result of Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease. In such cases, the person’s ability to speak properly is severely impacted and progressively gets worse. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has included primary progressive aphasia in its Compassionate Allowances listing of conditions that are eligible for expedited processing of claims. This means that if you suffer from primary progressive aphasia, your application for Social Security disability benefits will be processed and approved faster.
If your loved one suffers from primary progressive aphasia or any other kind of aphasia, contact my law firm for a free consultation.