dysphasia

a general term for an impairment of speech, whether it is manifested as a difficulty in understanding language or in self-expression. There is a large of conditions with varying degrees of severity. Global aphasia is a total inability to communicate, but some individuals partially understand what is said to them. Dysphasia is when thoughts can be expressed up to a point. Non-fluent dysphasia represents poor self-expression but good understanding while the reverse is called fluent dysphasia. The condition may be caused by a STROKE or other BRAIN damage and can be temporary or permanent.