If you are a fan of action movies, the news of Bruce Willis’s aphasia may have been disheartening. According to reporting from CBS, the actor decided to retire from his profession after experiencing communication difficulties on set and in meetings.
Being able to communicate verbally and in writing can be easy to take for granted. If you have a decline in these abilities, though, your aphasia is likely to affect virtually everything you do. Sadly, you may develop aphasia after a car accident.
What causes aphasia?
As the Mayo Clinic points out, aphasia typically occurs after a stroke or traumatic brain injury. The condition either may be acute or progressive.
If you hit your head during a car accident, you may be vulnerable to acute aphasia. Even the rapid head movement that comes with quick deceleration during a collision may cause you to develop the condition.
What are your treatment options?
Your prognosis and treatment options probably depend on the nature and severity of your aphasia. First, though, doctors must diagnose the condition. They are likely to do this by asking you to take a neurological test.
If you have an aphasia diagnosis, your physician may recommend speech and language therapy. During these sessions, a rehabilitation professional asks you to complete specific exercises. He or she also may recommend coping strategies.
How can you pay for treatment?
Ongoing rehabilitation typically comes with an expensive price tag. You may not have to pay for your care on your own, however. Ultimately, you may be able to seek financial compensation from the driver who caused the crash that caused your aphasia.