Public Awareness and Knowledge of Aphasia in Young Indian Adults

Abstract

Background: It has been suggested that awareness and knowledge about aphasia can lead to appropriate diagnosis and enhanced intervention. Earlier studies showed that the knowledge about aphasia was very less compared to other medical conditions

Background: It has been suggested that awareness and knowledge about aphasia can lead to appropriate diagnosis and enhanced intervention. Earlier studies showed that the knowledge about aphasia was very less compared to other medical conditions

Methods: An aphasia awareness survey was administered to 189 young adults (19 – 40 years) in locations of large gatherings (youth meetings, club, and shopping malls). Questions regarding the knowledge of aphasia was administered, and the respondents to answered “yes”, “no” and not sure. Qualitative analyses of the obtained results were done.

Results: It was observed that females had better knowledge compared to males. Around 45 individuals (49.45 %) heard about aphasia during their work economy, 28 individuals (30.76%) through reading articles related to stroke and 18 of them(19.78%) known aphasia as their relatives having aphasia.

Conclusion: Though a small survey, the awareness and knowledge about aphasia in young adults, is higher in those who work in relation to it than those who do not with females getting an overall higher score. The knowledge that aphasia can affect all language modalities is limited with uncertainties about it impact on mental health, thinking and cognition.