Aphasia can be classified in several ways.  Aphasia can be described as fluent or nonfluent, or classified in types based on what aspects of reading, writing, listening, and speaking are impaired.  Common types are listed here, but the reader is encouraged to review our Glossary of Terms for additional detail and explanation.

• Broca’s aphasia (non-fluent): speech is slow and effortful, but understanding may be good.
• Wernicke’s aphasia (fluent): speech sounds smooth but may not make sense, and understanding is often impaired.
• Global aphasia: severe problems with speaking, understanding, reading, and writing.
• Anomic aphasia: mainly trouble finding the right word. Each person’s experience is unique, and types can change over time with recovery.