Let's call it "aphasia": Rationales for eliminating the term "dysphasia"

Area of Science:

• Neurolinguistics
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Medical Terminology Standardization

Background:

• The terms aphasia and dysphasia are frequently used interchangeably by health professionals, researchers, and policymakers.
• This interchangeable use creates confusion within the medical community and among the public.
• Existing literature and professional organizations show a growing preference for the term aphasia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To argue for the exclusive use of the term aphasia.
• To propose a strategy for standardizing terminology through institutions like the World Health Organization (WHO) - International Classification of Diseases (ICD).
• To eliminate the term dysphasia from medical discourse.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of scholarly publications and clinical guidelines.
• Analysis of terminology used by consumer organizations and international language conventions.
• Examination of the historical use of terms within the International Classification of Diseases (ICD).

Main Results:

• Speech-language pathologists, scholarly publications, stroke clinical guidelines, and consumer organizations demonstrate a preference for the term aphasia.
• The continued use of dysphasia may be linked to its interchangeable use with aphasia in ICD-10.
• International linguistic patterns favor a term similar to aphasia.

Conclusions:

• Exclusive use of the term aphasia will prevent confusion and streamline communication.
• Standardizing terminology is crucial for accurate diagnosis, treatment, and research.
• Initiatives like Aphasia United aim to eliminate the term dysphasia and promote aphasia as the sole descriptor for this condition.