[Acute aphasia]

Acute aphasia is in most cases due to cerebrovascular disease. Its occurrence is a strong indication of a lesion in the language-dominant hemisphere, i.e. usually the left. Aphasia has to be differentiated from confusional states, mutism and dysarthria. We present the different aphasic syndromes, the clinical evaluation of patients with aphasia, the differential diagnosis and etiological considerations. Finally, therapeutic approaches to aphasia treatment are pointed out.