Speech and language are fundamental to how we connect with others, express ourselves, and navigate daily activities. Disorders affecting these abilities can impact emotional well-being, independence, and social participation. At Insight Speech and Swallowing Therapy, we specialize in helping individuals with aphasia, apraxia, and primary progressive aphasia (PPA), providing support to reclaim speech and communication skills at any stage. This article will explore the different types of aphasia, apraxia, and PPA, their impact on life, and how therapy can help restore communication and improve quality of life.
What is Aphasia? Understanding Its Impact on Language
Aphasia is a language disorder that typically occurs after a stroke or brain injury, affecting a person’s ability to speak, understand, read, and write.

Types of Aphasia:
Expressive Aphasia (Broca’s Aphasia): Difficulty verbalizing thoughts and forming sentences. Halting speech
Receptive Aphasia (Wernicke’s Aphasia): Difficulty understanding language, both spoken and written.
Global Aphasia: Severe communication impairment involving both expressive and receptive difficulties.
Signs of Aphasia:
Difficulty finding the right word or forming complete sentences.
Trouble understanding spoken or written language.
Difficulty following multi-step instructions.
How Therapy Can Help: Speech-language therapy can significantly improve communication, helping clients regain independence and participate in activities they enjoy.
What is Apraxia of Speech? A Motor Speech Disorder
Apraxia is a motor speech disorder that impacts the brain’s ability to plan and coordinate the movements needed for speech, despite the absence of muscle weakness.
Signs and Symptoms of Apraxia:
Difficulty repeating sounds or words.
Inconsistent errors in speech production (saying a word correctly one time, then incorrectly the next).
Groping speech (difficulty positioning the lips, tongue, and jaw to make the right sounds).
Slower rate of speech.
Some automatic speech may remain intact (e.g., "Hello," "How are you?").
How Therapy Can Help: Intensive, targeted speech therapy can help retrain the brain and improve the ability to produce clear and effective speech.
Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA): A Neurodegenerative Language Disorder
Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) is a rare and progressive condition characterized by a gradual decline in language abilities. It is a subtype of frontotemporal dementia, where language skills deteriorate before other cognitive functions.
The Three Main Types of PPA:
Non-fluent Agrammatic PPA: Effortful, halting speech with difficulty forming grammatical sentences and inconsistent sound errors (may include apraxia).
Logopenic PPA: Impaired word retrieval, speech sound substitutions, and difficulty with memory and naming tasks, but preserved grammar and object knowledge.
Semantic PPA: Impaired naming of objects and actions, along with significant difficulty understanding words and meanings.
Progression of PPA: PPA progresses slowly, with individuals losing the ability to speak and comprehend language over time. Cognitive decline typically follows the language impairment after several years.
How Therapy Can Help: While PPA is a progressive condition, therapy can slow its impact on communication, helping patients maintain social connections and everyday functions longer.
When to Seek Therapy for Aphasia, Apraxia, and PPA
Therapy can help at any stage, whether immediately after a stroke or during the gradual progression of a neurodegenerative disease like PPA. The sooner therapy begins, the better the chances of improving communication skills and regaining independence. Even in more advanced stages of aphasia, apraxia, or PPA, therapy can provide significant improvements in quality of life, aiding in functional communication and emotional well-being. Insight Speech and Swallowing Therapy provides personalized therapy plans tailored to the client’s needs, goals, and stage of recovery.

How Insight Speech and Swallowing Therapy Supports Clients?
Comprehensive Therapy Options:
In-Office Therapy: Personalized, one-on-one sessions in a supportive, professional environment.
Online Therapy: Convenient virtual sessions for clients who prefer to receive therapy from the comfort of their own homes.
In-Home Therapy: Tailored home visits for those who need more flexible, in-person care.
Our team is trained in treating aphasia, apraxia, and PPA, using evidence-based techniques to support recovery and communication.We focus on helping you return to the activities you enjoy, from socializing with friends to participating in hobbies or work.
How to Get Started with Therapy at Insight Speech and Swallowing Therapy
Ready to improve your communication skills? Contact Insight Speech and Swallowing Therapy to schedule an assessment and begin your personalized therapy journey. You can schedule appointments online (https://insightspeechandswallowing.clientsecure.me) or via phone: (856) 200-8392. We serve Cherry Hill and surrounding South Jersey communities, offering flexible options for in-office, online, and in-home therapy. Reach out today and take the first step toward regaining your voice, independence, and quality of life.
Empowering Clients to Reclaim Their Voice
Whether recovering from a stroke, managing apraxia, or navigating the challenges of PPA, therapy at Insight Speech and Swallowing Therapy can help you regain meaningful communication skills and enhance your daily life. We’re here to support you every step of the way—no matter where you are in your journey.
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